Effect of enalapril on glomerular filtration rate and proteinuria in children with chronic kidney disease: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy of enalapril treatment on decline in glomerular filtration rate and reduction in proteinuria in children with chronic kidney disease (CKD). DESIGN Open-label, randomized controlled trial. SETTING Pediatric nephrology clinic at a tertiary-care referral hospital. INTERVENTION Children with GFR between 15-60 mL/min/1.73 m2 were randomized to receive either enalapril at 0.4 mg/kg /day or no enalapril for 1 year. OUTCOME MEASURES Change in GFR using 99mTc-DTPA and urine protein to creatinine ratio. Secondary outcomes included occurrence of composite outcome (30% decline in GFR or end stage renal disease) and systolic and diastolic blood pressure SDS during the study period. RESULTS 41 children were randomized into two groups; 20 received enalapril while 21 did not receive enalapril. During 1 year, GFR decline was not different in the two groups (regression coefficient (r) 0.40, 95% CI -4.29 to 5.09, P=0.86). The mean proteinuria reduction was 65% in the enalapril group, significantly higher than control group. The difference was significant even after adjustment for blood pressure was 198.5 (CI 97.5, 299.3; P<0.001). 3 (17.6%) patients in enalapril and 7 (36.8%) in non-enalapril group attained the composite outcome. CONCLUSIONS Enalapril is effective in reducing proteinuria in children with CKD and might be renoprotective in proteinuric CKD.