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The effect of aging on the physiologic responses of renal plasma flow (RPF) and glomerular filtration rate to an acute oral protein load (renal reserve) is a poorly understood process. In this study of 37 healthy human volunteers, distributed among three groups (group 1: n = 13, age range 20-39 years; group 2: n = 13, age range 40-59 years; group 3: n = 11, age range 60-68 years), we evaluated the influence of age on some of the vasoactive systems such as plasma renin activity, urinary kallikrein, plasmatic prokallikrein, plasmatic kallikrein, and plasmatic kininogen on RPF and creatinine clearance (Ccr) in response to an acute oral protein load (1 g/kg body weight). The aging process diminished but did not cease the increments in RPF (group 1: 539.6 vs. 658.9 ml/min/1.73 m(2), p < 0. 001; group 2: 509.0 vs. 570.7 ml/min/ 1.73 m(2), p < 0.001; group 3: 453.9 vs. 506.0 ml/min/ 1.73 m(2), p < 0.001) and Ccr (group 1: 139. 7 vs. 166.5 ml/ min/1.73 m(2), p < 0.001; group 2: 126.6 vs. 142.2 ml/min/1.73 m(2), p < 0.001; group 3: 112.6 vs. 121.4 ml/min/ 1.73 m(2), p < 0.01) after a protein overload. The plasma renin activity did not change after a meat meal. On the other hand, all parameters regarding the kinin system changed significantly in the direction of increased bradykinin formation, despite aging (urinary kallikrein - group 1: 0.25 vs. 0.44 mU/ml, p < 0.005; group 2: 0.25 vs. 0.41 mU/ml, p < 0.005; group 3: 0.33 vs. 0.47 mU/ml, p < 0.005/plasmatic kininogen - group 1: 1.3 vs. 0.9 microg LBK/ml, p < 0.005; group 2: 1.1 vs. 0.7 microg LBK/ml, p < 0.005; group 3: 0.8 vs. 0.7 microg LBK/ml, p < 0.005). These findings indicate that: (1) the aging process narrows but does not cease the increment range in Ccr and RPF after acute oral protein ingestion; (2) increased bradykinin formation plays a definite role in the acute renal vasodilatory response, and (3) contrary to previous clinical studies, our results suggest that the renal reserve is progressively and significantly reduced during the aging process., (Copyright 1999 S. Karger AG, Basel)

In this cross-over, double-blind study, 12 essential hypertensive patients (stage I, II, and III) with glomerular filtration rate (GFR) between 50 to 80 mL/min/1.73 m2, were submitted to 4 weeks of placebo followed by 12 weeks with isradipine SRO (IS) 5 mg, spirapril (SP) 6 mg, and isradipine plus spirapril (IS + SP). The study evaluated the effects of these drugs on GFR ((99m)Tc DTPA), effective renal plasma flow (ERPF) ((131)I-orthoiodohippurate), urinary sodium excretion (UNaV), urinary kallikrein excretion (UKal), urinary albumin excretion (UAE), and plasma renin activity (PRA). The three protocols significantly reduced mean blood pressure (128 v 107 mm Hg; 126 v 112 mm Hg; 129 v 104 mm Hg with IS, SP and IS + SP, respectively). ERPF and GFR did not change. UNaV increased significantly after IS (0.17 v 0.22 mEq/min) and IS + SP (0.18 v 0.24 mEq/min). UKal increased significantly after IS (58.6%) and IS + SP (53.6%). UAE decreased significantly only after SP. PRA increased significantly after IS (1.31 v 2.84 ng/mL/h), SP (1.10 v 2.15 ng/mL/h), and after IS + SP (1.23 v 3.21 ng/mL/min). In conclusion, IS, SP and IS + SP were effective in reducing blood pressure while keeping renal function stable. Only SP significantly decreased UAE. Enhanced UKal may have played a role in natriuresis observed after IS and IS + SP.