Effect of captopril on renal hemodynamics in the treatment of resistant renal hypertension.

The effects of 6 weeks of treatment with captopril on the renal hemodynamics of 16 patients with treatment-resistant renal hypertension (six had diabetic nephropathy, seven had other renal parenchymatous disease, and three had renovascular disease) were studied. Significant changes in glomerular filtration rate, filtration fraction, plasma renin activity, urinary aldosterone, and mean blood pressure were noted in the patients with renal parenchymatous disease, but not in those with diabetic nephropathy. Renal blood flow remained unchanged in all patients. Captopril was well tolerated.