The research aimed primarily to see if early treatment with the drugs enalapril and losartan, could prevent kidney damage in Type-1 diabetics. The result was disappointing, as there was no significant reduction in the kidney damage in the subjects.
However, the evaluation of diabetic retinopathy in which leakage of blood vessels can ruin vision demonstrated a huge drop in the progression of eye damage in those taking the drugs.
Study conducted
The research team led by Dr. Michael Mauer from the University of Minnesota Medical School divided 285 diabetics into three groups. None of the subjects had either blood pressure or kidney problems at the beginning of the study.
As a part of the study two groups were put on losartan and enalapril, respectively. The third group was given a placebo.
Researchers observations
The participants of the three groups were tracked for a period of five years. The researchers observed that taking anti-hypertensive medicines had a substantially positive effect in diabetic's eye injury.
The results revealed that eye damage slowed by as much as 65 percent in the enalapril group and 70 percent in the losartan group.
Also around 38 percent of the subjects given placebos reported eye damage, as opposed to 25 percent in the enalapril group and 21 percent in the losartan group.
Dr. Bruce Perkins of the University of Toronto stated, "Inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system reduced the advancement of retinal changes by 60 to 70 percent as compared with placebo, mostly likely independent of blood-pressure reduction.”
"There is a benefit and the benefit appears to be a little bit more easy to detect in people with no or mild eye changes than in people with severe eye changes," Mauer added.
Mauer cautioned that while the drugs appeared safe for preventing diabetic retinopathy, pregnant women should refrain from taking them as they could cause birth defects in children.
“But there are some people whose blood sugars are very difficult to control, who are developing early eye changes. It might be quite reasonable, given what we know, to institute this kind of treatment," he said.
He further added that there was a need for further research, to establish at what age and for how long, the drugs should be given.
The findings of the study were published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
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