Possible new role for angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors in treating glomerulonephritis

Serum transforming growth factor-beta [TGF-beta1] production was estimated for 10 patients with essential hypertension, 12 patients with glomerulonephritis [5 hypertensive and 7 normotensive] and 10 healthy controls. The glomerulonephritis group received angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor captopril 25-75 mg/day for 4 weeks. Blood urea, serum creatinine, 24-hour urinary protein and serum TGF-beta1 were then re-estimated. Urea and creatinine were significantly higher in the hypertension and glomerulonephritis groups than in the controls and also higher in the glomerulonephritis group than the hypertension group. TGF-beta1 was significantly higher in the glomerulonephritis groups than in the control and hypertension groups. TGF-beta1 and 24-hour urinary protein were significantly reduced in the glomerulonephritis group