[The effect of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor enalapril on the rates of progression of chronic kidney failure in patients with different degrees of functional kidney disorders].

By a reciprocal of creatininemia the rate of chronic renal failure progression (CRF) was assessed in 14 patients with nephropathy on enalapril treatment. The day dose ranged from 2.5 to 15 mg. In patients with serum creatinin levels from 0.24 to 0.41 mmol/l (group 1) enalapril significantly inhibited CRF progression, as it did in group 2 (serum creatinin levels from 0.47 to 0.68 mmol/l) but 1 patient. In patients with creatinin levels over 0.71 mmol/l, the influence of enalapril on CRF progression rate was insignificant. All the patients exhibited stabilization of arterial hypertension. Proteinuria diminished in groups 1 and 2, while creatinin clearance decreased in groups 1 and 3. It is inferred that enalapril control of renal function in nephropathy patients is efficient only in early CRF.