Ramipril And Kidneys

[237SJ]

" In the kidneys, the narrowing of the arteries by angiotensin II decreases blood flow. ACE inhibitors enlarge and reduce blood pressure in the arteries that supply blood to the kidneys. This reduces damage to the kidneys resulting from high blood pressure." ...but how does the high blood pressure damage the kidneys? Does the force of the blood coming though damage them?

[gness]

In MrG very high BP was damaging the blood vessels in the kidneys. That stopped them removing waste and fluid efficiently which meant the extra fluid not removed put his BP up even more....a bit of a circle....

There may be more to it which someone else can put better....I've stopped learning about kidney failure.

[ethandron]

High blood pressure makes blood vessels stretch to allow blood to flow more easily. This stretching can result in scarring in the blood vessels, which can make the kidney blood vessels stop removing waste and excess water. Extra fluid in the blood vessels can then raise blood pressure even more, making it a dangerous vicious circle.

[Sqad]

High BP causes artery damage, and the kidneys are packed with arteries.
Kidneys are supplied with dense blood vessels, and high volumes of blood flow through them. Over time, uncontrolled high blood pressure can cause arteries around the kidneys to narrow, weaken or harden......this is the same for coronary arteries (heart disease) and the cerebral arteries (stroke) or indeed the legs (gangrene). These damaged arteries are not able to deliver enough blood to the kidney tissue and it slowly dies.

Damaged kidney arteries do not filter blood well.
Kidneys have small, finger-like nephrons that filter your blood. Each nephron receives its blood supply through tiny hair-like capillaries, which are the smallest of all blood vessels. When the arteries become damaged, the nephrons do not receive the essential oxygen and nutrients. Also, the kidneys lose their ability to filter blood and regulate the fluid, hormones, acids and salts in the body.

Damaged kidneys fail to regulate blood pressure.
Healthy kidneys produce a hormone to help the body regulate its own blood pressure. Kidney damage and uncontrolled high blood pressure each contribute to a negative spiral. As more arteries become blocked and stop functioning, the kidneys eventually fail. This process can happen over several years, but it can be prevented

[Peter Pedant]

excellent short report

I googled this and surprisingly Guyton's views are still predominant
and Sqad will immediately think: 'I had to do him in 2nd MB'
So here is a long paper by Guyton
http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/64/6/1079.long

and my own view is - thank god I dont have to do this nowadays !

[Sqad]

PP.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Francis_Ganong,_Jr.

That was the guy who influenced my thinking.

[Peter Pedant]

Ganong .....
thank god i didnt say - "cr+p ! Sqad's missed out auto-regulation !"


[In my English class, someone copied out a bit of the Cruel Sea, and the Head Master came in and said, " I have never read such powerful writing from a 14 y o. YOu should think about having it published" oo-er ! ].

[Sqad]

Ramipril And Kidneys

Shouldn't this be in Food and Drink?

[237SJ]

Thanks for the replies and links. The GP took my Mum off bendroflumethiazide a while ago but left her on the Ramipril because "it helps the kidneys" which made me wonder if there was some other benefit aside from controling the blood pressure but it doesn`t look like it.