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Kidney International, Vol. 63 (2003), pp. 172–178

VASCULAR BIOLOGY – HEMODYNAMICS – HYPERTENSION

Glomerular hemodynamics and the -angiotensin system in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus

NORMAN K. HOLLENBERG,DEBORAH A. PRICE,NAOMI D.L. FISHER,M.CECILIA LANSANG, BRUCE PERKINS,MICHAEL S. GORDON,GORDON H. WILLIAMS, and LORI M.B. LAFFEL

Departments of Medicine and Radiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Glomerular hemodynamics and the renin-angiotensin system sion, and the beneficial action of angiotensin-converting- in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. enzyme (ACE) inhibition on the involves prefer- Background. Many studies have reported that blocking the ential efferent arteriolar dilation [1–6]. A related ele- renin-angiotensin-system (RAS) with an angiotensin-convert- ing enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or an angiotensin receptor blocker ment is the suggestion that the effects of ACE inhibition in the patient with diabetes mellitus leads to an increase in on kinin metabolism also contribute to efferent arteriolar renal plasma flow (RPF), no change in glomerular filtration dilatation as a major part of therapeutic efficacy [7–11]. rate (GFR), and a fall in filtration fraction. This constellation is As the construct is simple and easy to understand, generally attributed to predominant efferent arteriolar dilation. logical and internally consistent, and supported by sub- Methods. This study examined the renal hemodynamic re- sponse to blocking the RAS with both captopril and candesartan stantial data, it has been subject to little thoughtful criti- on separate days in 31 patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. cism. We were surprised, therefore, by the fact that the Results. There was a wide range of changes in RPF and angiotensin II subtype 1 (AT1) receptor blocker, irbesar- GFR in response to the two agents, each administered at the tan, not only increased renal plasma flow (RPF) in pa- top of its dose-response range. The RPF response to the two tients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and nephropathy, it agents was strongly concordant (r ϭ 0.65; P Ͻ 0.001), as was the GFR response (r ϭ 0.81; P Ͻ 0.001). Moreover, there was also increased glomerular filtration rate (GFR) substan- a strong correlation between the RPF response and the change tially in some patients [12]. Indeed, experts in the field in GFR with each agent (r ϭ 0.83 and 0.66; P Ͻ 0.01). A expressed concern that an increase in GFR might limit significant rise in RPF was followed by a rise in GFR. The the therapeutic efficacy of AT1 receptor blockers in such RPF dependency of GFR in the type 1 diabetics suggests patients. We now know that AT receptor blockers are strongly that glomerular filtration equilibrium exists in the glo- 1 meruli of the diabetic kidney: Simple notions of local control effective in decreasing progression of ESRD [13–15], based on afferent:efferent arteriolar resistance ratios are too especially so early in the course [13] when the rise in simplistic. GFR was most striking in our studies [12]. There are Conclusion. Our data suggest that the intrarenal RAS is alternatives to afferent and efferent-resistant ratios in activated in over 80% of patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. the control of GFR [16, 17], the subject of this study. Abundant evidence suggests that this activation predisposes to diabetic nephropathy. Measurements of the renal of markers of RPF and GFR—the only approach currently available for their assessment in the intact human—have long been A construct explaining glomerular hemodynamics in believed to enjoy a rather limited signal-to-noise ratio the kidney at risk of progression to end-stage renal dis- [18]. We were surprised, therefore, by the remarkable ease (ESRD) is so widely held today that it seems to hold intra-individual concordance of changes in para-amino- the status of received truth. According to this concept a hippurate (PAH) clearance in response to an ACE inhib- preferential action of angiotensin II (Ang II) on the itor and a renin inhibitor in healthy humans [19], and to contributes to glomerular hyperten- an AT1 receptor blocker and ACE inhibitor in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus [20]. Moreover, the rise in RPF in some patients with diabetes mellitus was suffi- Key words: ACE-I, angiotensin receptor blockade, intrarenal renin cient [12, 20] to influence GFR if RPF dependency of system, filtration equilibrium. GFR existed in that setting. Thus, we undertook this study Received for publication February 21, 2002 with two goals in mind: (1), to examine the RPF depen- and in revised form May 14, 2002 dency of GFR in type 1 diabetes mellitus; and (2), to Accepted for publication August 5, 2002 exploit studies in which the response to an ACE inhibi-

 2003 by the International Society of Nephrology tor, captopril, and an AT1 receptor blocker, candesartan,

172 Hollenberg et al: Glomerular dynamics 173 was compared systematically to provide an index of the where balance was achieved on a controlled diet. All reproducibility of the clearance measures, and to ascer- subjects were placed on a high-salt isocaloric diet starting tain the mechanism of the ACE inhibitor-induced re- two days prior to admission and continuing throughout sponses. Specifically of interest was the question of the hospitalization, with a daily intake of 200 mmol. whether the reduction of Ang II formation induced by Daily dietary potassium (100 mmol) and fluid intake the ACE inhibitor could account for this effect. (2500 mL) were constant. Twenty-four-hour sam- ples were collected daily and analyzed for sodium, potas- sium, creatinine and protein. Twenty-four-hour urine so- METHODS dium and potassium content was expected from the diet Subjects and protocols (Table 1), as were PRA and plasma concen- A total of 31 men and women with type 1 diabetes trations. The protocol was approved by the Human Sub- mellitus were studied who were admitted sequentially jects Committee of the institution, and written informed to this study. They ranged in age from 17 to 62 years consent was obtained from each subject. (mean Ϯ SEM; 31 Ϯ 2.2). The duration of diabetes ranged from 2 to 40 years (mean 17 Ϯ 1.9). Type 1 diabetes Renal hemodynamic and hormonal responses to the mellitus was diagnosed according to accepted guidelines ACE inhibitor, captopril and the AT1 receptor [21]. Body weight ranged from 55 to 110 kg with an blocker, candesartan average of 73.5 Ϯ 2.1 kg. Body mass index ranged from Each subject participated in two experimental days. 21.7 to 35.6 kg/m2 with an average of 25.5 Ϯ 0.61 kg/m2. On the morning of each study day an intravenous cathe- Body mass index exceeded 28 in four of the patients. ter was placed in each arm of each subject, one for pressure averaged 120 Ϯ 2.8/69 Ϯ 1.5 mm Hg, infusion of PAH, inulin, and dextrose 5% in water and and exceeded a systolic BP of 135 mm Hg in four. Dia- the other for blood sampling. A third intravenous line stolic BP did not exceed 85 mm Hg in any patient. Hemo- was placed for continuous infusion of insulin that was globin A1C (HbA1c) ranged from 4.8 to 10.7%, and aver- started at 0.015 units/kg/h. Blood was measured aged 7.7 Ϯ 0.28%. A1c exceeded 9% in four every 30 minutes (Precision PCX; Abbott Laboratories, subjects. Similarly, fasting blood sugar averaged 144 Ϯ Chicago, IL, USA). The insulin infusion was adjusted to 8.8 mg/dL, exceeding 200 mg/dL in three. Serum creati- maintain blood glucose below renal threshold but with- nine concentration was less than 1.4 mg/dL in all but out inducing hypoglycemia, at levels of about 100 to 140 one patient in whom serum creatinine was 2.0 mg/dL. mg/dL. The subjects were supine and had been fasting All were otherwise healthy, free of sustained proteinuria for at least eight hours. Each study day began with a 60- and other complications of diabetes. Three 24-hour urine minute baseline infusion of PAH and inulin prior to drug collections were made in search of microalbuminuria. administration, to determine baseline renal plasma flow We identified microalbuminuria, reflecting a value ex- (RPF) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) respectively. ceeding 17 ␮g/mg creatinine in males, and 25 ␮g/mg Hormonal measurements were made on blood samples creatinine in females in five subjects. In three of the five, obtained at baseline and four hours after drug adminis- all three urine collections showed microalbuminuria. In tration while the subjects were lying supine. Peak RPF the other two subjects, two of the three collections showed was identified as the two largest sequential measures of an increase. There was no difference in the renal vascular PAH clearance. The term “peak GFR” designates GFR response to pharmacological interruption of the renin- measurements made at the same time as peak RPF. angiotensin-system in those with microalbuminuria, and The study was designed to compare the renal hemody- those who lacked it. There were five patients in whom namic response to captopril and to candesartan. On the hypertension had been diagnosed. In each, treatment first morning the patients received captopril, 25 mg PO. involved an ACE inhibitor or an angiotensin antagonist, On the next morning, the patients received candesartan, and in three additional patients who were free of hyper- 16 mg PO. These doses were chosen because both repre- tension, ACE inhibition had been undertaken as a pro- sent the top of the relationship between dose and RPF phylactic. ACE inhibitors and angiotensin antagonists response. were discontinued 10 days before the renal hemodynamic was recorded during each infusion by study. Our study plan included the use of alpha methyl- an automatic recording device (Dinamap; Critikon, Nor- dopa to control hypertension should therapy be needed, derstedt, Germany) at five-minute intervals. but in no case was it required. There was no difference in the renal vascular response to blocking the renin sys- Renal clearance studies tem in those with or without hypertension or prior ACE Para-aminohippurate (Merck, Sharp & Dohme, Rah- inhibitor use. The subjects were studied during admission way, NJ, USA) and inulin (Inutest; Fresenius Pharma to a metabolic ward at the General Clinical Research Austria GmbH, Linz, Austria) clearances were assessed Center (GCRC) at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital after metabolic balance was achieved. A control blood 174 Hollenberg et al: Glomerular dynamics

Table 1. Baseline characteristics of 31 subjects in high sodium balance Table 2. Baseline renal hemodynamics of 31 subjects in high sodium balance Parameters Mean Ϯ SEM Ϯ Captopril vs. Age years 31 2.2 candesartan Sex distribution male/female 13/18 Captopril Candesartan P value Race All Caucasian Body mass index kg/m2 25.5Ϯ0.61 Renal plasma flow Systolic blood pressure mm Hg 120Ϯ2.8 mL/min/1.73 m2 Diastolic blood pressure mm Hg 69Ϯ1.5 Baseline 577Ϯ20 594Ϯ21 0.6 Duration of diabetes years 17Ϯ1.9 Glomerular filtration rate Hemoglobin A1C % 7.7Ϯ0.3 mL/min/1.73 m2 Fasting blood sugar mg/dL 144Ϯ8.8 Baseline 117Ϯ4 118Ϯ4 0.6 Serum creatinine mg/dL 0.9Ϯ0.04 Serum sodium mEq/L 138Ϯ1 Serum potassium mEq/L 4.3Ϯ0.1 24-hour urine sodium mEq 263Ϯ20 24-hour urine potassium mEq 59Ϯ4 vascular and PRA responses to captopril and candesar- ng/Ang I/mL/h 0.5Ϯ0.2 Plasma aldosterone ng/dL 3.0Ϯ0.2 tan. The subjects were then divided into two groups, those in whom the RPF response to captopril was normal and those in whom the response was accentuated, to determine if there were differences in renin activity. Fish- sample was drawn, and then loading doses of PAH (8 er’s exact test, t test and Mann-Whitney rank sum test mg/kg) and inulin (50 mg/kg) were given intravenously. were used to compare the characteristics and the renal A constant infusion of PAH and inulin was initiated hemodynamic and PRA responses of these two groups. immediately at a rate of 12 mg/min and 30 mg/min, re- Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was performed to spectively, with an IMED pump (IMED Corp., San account for possible confounding effects of baseline char- Diego, CA, USA). This achieved a plasma PAH concen- acteristics on RPF responses on the two study days. tration in the middle of the range in which tubular secre- tion dominates excretion. At this plasma level of PAH, RESULTS clearance is independent of plasma concentration, and Baseline characteristics of the subjects are listed in represents about 90% of RPF when corrected for indi- Table 1. The high salt balance, as evidenced by a 24- vidual body surface area. Likewise, at the level of plasma hour urine sodium excretion of 263 Ϯ 20 mEq, resulted inulin achieved, inulin clearance reflects GFR. RPF and in suppression of PRA at baseline, as anticipated. GFR determinations were made at baseline and at 45- ϳ Renal plasma flow at baseline was not significantly minute intervals thereafter until 225 minutes ( 4h) different for captopril and candesartan (Table 2). Both while the subjects were supine. captopril and candesartan caused a significant rise in Ϯ Laboratory procedures RPF. Following captopril RPF rose by 66 11 mL/min/ 1.73 m2 (P Ͻ 0.01). Renal plasma flow rose by more than Blood samples were collected on ice and spun immedi- 20 mL/min/1.73 m2—the upper limit of the response in ately, and the plasma was frozen until assay. Urinary so- normal subjects of the renal vascular response to capto- dium and serum potassium levels were measured using the pril on a high salt diet—in all but 6 of the 31 subjects. ion-selective electrode (ISE). PAH and inulin were mea- Candesartan likewise induced a substantial rise in RPF sured using an autoanalyzer technique. Plasma renin ac- of 88 Ϯ 12 mL/min/1.73 m2 (P Ͻ 0.001). The same six tivity (PRA) and aldosterone were determined by radio- subjects showed limited responses to candesartan. The immunoassay [22, 23]. Hemoglobin A1C was measured response to captopril and candesartan were highly corre- by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The lated (Fig. 1; r ϭ 0.65; P Ͻ 0.001). normal range is 4.4 to 6.3%. Baseline and peak GFR values were likewise not sig- nificantly different between the two drugs. There was no Statistical analyses significant change in GFR, on average, either in response Group means were calculated with the standard error to captopril or to candesartan (P ϭ 0.74 and P ϭ 0.45, of the mean (SEM) as the index of dispersion. For renal respectively). By analogy with the RPF response to cap- hemodynamics data, the baseline value taken was the topril and to candesartan, GFR responses to both agents average of three pre-drug determinations, and the peak were also highly correlated (Fig. 2; r ϭ 0.81; P Ͻ 0.001). response was the average of the two highest consecutive Individuals in whom captopril seemed to raise GFR also values. showed a rise in GFR with candesartan. The individuals Pearson’s correlation was used to test the association in whom captopril appeared to drop GFR also showed of the renal response to candesartan with the response a drop with candesartan. to captopril. Paired t test was used to compare the renal There was a clear correlation between the renal vaso- Hollenberg et al: Glomerular dynamics 175

Fig. 1. Renal plasma flow of captopril versus candesartan. Relationship between the renal hemodynamic response to angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition by captopril, and to angiotensin II type 1

(AT1) receptor blockade by candesartan in 31 patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Note the concordance between the renal hemody- namic response to captopril and to candesartan (r ϭ 0.65; P Ͻ 0.001; y ϭ 0.75x ϩ 28.90; f ϭ 20.9).

Fig. 3. PAH versus inulin. (A) Relationship between renal plasma flow (RPF) response to candesartan as measured by PAH clearance, and simultaneous change in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) as measured by inulin clearance. Note the large increases in RPF were associated with a substantial increase in GFR (r ϭ 0.83; P Ͻ 0.01), evidence of the RPF dependency of GFR in this situation. (B) Relationship between RPF response to captopril in the same patients, and its influence on GFR. Note the similar relationship between RPF and GFR following ϭ Ͻ Fig. 2. Glomerular filtration rate of captopril versus candesartan. Rela- captopril (r 0.66; P 0.01): GFR changes are RPF-dependent. tionship between changes in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) induced by candesartan and by captopril in the same patients as in Figure 1. Note that the responses to the two agents show close accord (r ϭ 0.81; P Ͻ 0.001; y ϭ 0.91x ϩ 2.75; f ϭ 48.3; N ϭ 28). When GFR rose in response to captopril, it also rose in response to candesartan. When topril and candesartan differed from the others in several GFR fell in response to captopril, it also fell in response to candesartan. possibly important ways. They were older (38 Ϯ 6 vs. 27 Ϯ 2 years), had a longer duration of diabetes mellitus (27 Ϯ 5 vs. 15 Ϯ 2 years), and despite the increased duration were still free of proteinuria and hypertension. They did dilator response to candesartan, indicated by a change not differ from the others in the indices of glycemic control. in RPF, and the change in GFR (Fig. 3A; r ϭ 0.83; P Ͻ 0.001). The individuals in whom GFR rose were largely those in whom candesartan induced a substantial rise in DISCUSSION RPF. Similar relationships were evident between the On average, both captopril and candesartan induced a renal hemodynamic response to captopril and the influ- significant increase in RPF in patients with type 1 diabetes ence of captopril on GFR (Fig. 3B; r ϭ 0.66; P Ͻ 0.002). mellitus. Again, on average GFR neither rose nor fell, as Although it was not the primary focus of this study, reported in many studies [2–6]. The strong concordance it was evident that the six individuals who failed to show between the RPF response induced by captopril and by an enhanced response to blockade of the RAS with cap- candesartan indicates that the rise in RPF in individual 176 Hollenberg et al: Glomerular dynamics patients probably reflects a reversal of angiotensin-medi- effect on GFR [18, 31, 32]. This favors glomerular filtra- ated vasoconstriction, as suggested earlier [20]. What is tion disequilibrium in normal humans. With the develop- new is the finding that the change in GFR induced by ment of diabetes mellitus, there is a substantial increase captopril and by candesartan was also highly concordant, in both renal and glomerular size, with concomitant suggesting that these changes are equally real. When changes in the glomerular . The findings in this captopril induced a sharp increase in GFR, so did cande- study raise the interesting possibility that one physiologi- sartan. The equally strong concordance between change cal consequence of this morphologic change is the devel- in RPF and change in GFR also induced by both capto- opment of glomerular filtration equilibrium, and thus pril and candesartan is supportive of this hypothesis, and RPF dependency of GFR. The fact that diabetes mellitus suggests a responsible mechanism: In the setting of this is a volume expanded state, also would favor filtration study, GFR was to a major degree RPF dependent. equilibrium. There are alternatives to filtration equilib- Renal plasma flow dependency of GFR, which occurs rium as an explanation for the rise in GFR. Glomerular in some circumstances but not all, has been understood intermittency, which was corrected by ACE inhibition for thirty years [24–26]. Glomerular filtration occurs be- and angiotensin receptor blockade, would provide an cause hydrostatic pressure in the glomerular capillaries alternative explanation. There is little evidence of glo- exceeds the offsetting oncotic pressure due to intravascu- merular intermittency in species beyond the amphibian lar plasma protein. As filtration occurs, protein concen- [18], and intermittency would be especially unlikely in tration in the glomerular capillaries rises, and filtration view of the very high baseline GFR. will cease when oncotic pressure equals glomerular capil- Why have these relationships been missed in earlier lary hydrostatic pressure. This equality between the two studies? In general, the renal hemodynamic response to offsetting forces has been referred to as “filtration pres- ACE inhibition or angiotensin receptor blockers in the sure equilibrium.” This state, which has been observed patients with renal disease or at risk of renal injury has in the hydropenic rat [26] and hydropenic monkey [27], been presented as group means. When examined in this is a situation in which an increase in glomerular plasma way, we found in our current study what others have flow rate, in the absence of significant changes in protein found and reported in the past: RPF rose, GFR on aver- oncotic or hydrostatic pressure, will result in a age did not change, and as a consequence filtration frac- proportional rise in GFR. This rise occurs because an tion fell. Over the past decade, however, we have come increase in plasma flow, in the absence of other changes to appreciate that the clearance method, performed care- in the determinants of GFR, results in a reduction in the fully, is sufficiently precise that it can be applied to the rate of increased plasma protein concentration. As a individual measure. In a double blind comparison in consequence, the point at which filtration equilibrium is healthy humans we found a striking concordance be- achieved is moved further toward the efferent end of tween renal responses to captopril and to a renin inhibi- the glomerular capillary network, effectively increasing tor [19]. More recently, we found equivalent concor- the total capillary surface area exposed to a positive dance to the renal vascular response to captopril and to ultrafiltration pressure. The striking concordance be- the AT1 receptor blocker candesartan in patients with tween the change in RPF induced by both candesartan type 1 diabetes mellitus [20]. Indeed, it was the findings and captopril, and what is probably the consequent in the latter study that led to the current analysis. The change in GFR, suggests strongly that the changes in variations found in individual patients in this study are GFR reflect RPF dependency. real, and may well reflect different stages in the process Whether or not filtration equilibrium exists appears or different background pathophysiology. to vary both with physiological state and the species. In Although it was not our primary goal in this study to the dog, filtration disequilibrium is the usual finding, and identify the factors responsible for a large renal hemody- GFR varies little with RPF, for example, during plasma namic response to blocking the RAS in some patients, volume expansion [28]. In the hydropenic rat, as indi- and in minimal response in others, we did note that cated earlier, filtration equilibrium is the routine. With the nonresponders tended to be older, have a longer volume expansion, on the other hand, at least some rats duration of diabetes mellitus, and to have remained com- achieve filtration disequilibrium [17]. In humans, of course, plication free. One intriguing possibility is that these only indirect evidence is available. More than sixty years factors are mechanistically linked: Specifically, one might ago, Homer Smith and coworkers suggested that filtra- argue that the prolonged duration at risk without devel- tion equilibrium was the usual situation in the healthy opment of nephropathy is a product of the fact that they human kidney [29], a conclusion not confirmed by more did not activate the RAS, and thereby were protected. recent analyses [30]. In accord with the latter, volume An alternative possibility is that they escaped nephropa- expansion and blocking the renin-angiotensin system thy for other reasons, and the RAS activation burned (RAS) with ACE inhibitors or angiotensin receptor block- out during that long interval. While we find the former ers will increase RPF in healthy humans but have little possibility to be the more attractive, no information in- Hollenberg et al: Glomerular dynamics 177 trinsic to this study would allow us to choose. Three at the tissue level. As the RAS clearly contributes to the major clinical subsets of patients, involving whether an development and progression of nephropathy in diabe- enhanced renal vascular response was present; whether tes, identification of the sources of the intrarenal RAS hypertension was present; and whether microalbumin- activation has a substantial priority. uria was present was examined in this study, but as only five or six patients fell into these subsets, any conclusion ACKNOWLEDGMENTS must be tentative. We plan to revisit these issues when This work was supported in part by the National Institutes of Health our experience has increased two- to threefold. grants (NCRR GCRC M01RR02635, Hypertension SCOR 5P50HL Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition is a phar- 55000, Hypertension Training T32HL07609, and 1R01DK5466804). We are also grateful for the pharmaceutical support of AstraZeneca macologically more complex situation than angiotensin Pharmaceuticals, Molndal, Sweden. We thank Ms. Charlene Malarick, receptor blockade. ACE is also kininase-II, and conse- R.N., Ms. Caroline Coletti, B.S., M.S., and Ms. Diana Capone for their quently bradykinin levels can rise during ACE inhibition assistance in various aspects of this study. This research study was performed at Brigham and Women’s Hospital on the General Clinical [33]. In a number of animal models, it has been suggested Research Center. that ACE inhibitor-induced bradykinin accumulation contributes to the renal hemodynamic response [7–11]. Reprint requests to Norman K. Hollenberg, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, There is evidence of striking species variation in the Massachusetts 02115, USA. contribution of bradykinin to renal hemodynamic re- E-mail: [email protected] sponses, and in humans the findings are mostly negative [33, 34]. 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