Background: The efficacy of ACE-inhibitors in decreasing microalbuminuria and proteinuria has been reported in a few patients with glycogen storage disease type 1 (GSD1); however, no case-control study has ever been published.
Aim: The aim of the current study was to evaluate the efficacy of ACE-inhibitors in reducing glomerular hyperfiltration, microalbuminuria and proteinuria, and in delaying the progression of renal damage.
Patients and methods: Ninety-five patients (median age at the time of the study: 14.5 years) were enrolled from nine Italian referral centres for metabolic diseases. A retrospective study of a 10-year follow-up was conducted in order to compare the evolution of these parameters in treated patients with those who were not treated with ACE-inhibitors.
Results: A significant and progressive decrease of glomerular filtration rate was observed in treated patients vs. those who were not treated with ACE-inhibitors (P < 0.05). No difference was observed for microalbuminuria and proteinuria between the two groups of patients. Moreover, the ACE-inhibitors significantly delayed the progression from glomerular hyperfiltration to microalbuminuria, but not that from microalbuminuria to proteinuria.
Conclusions: The results of the present study underline the importance of a strict follow-up of renal function in GSD1 patients. The detection of glomerular hyperfiltration suggests precocious initiation of ACE-inhibitor treatment to delay the progression of renal damage. A randomized prospective study is needed to establish for certain the real effectiveness of this treatment in GSD1 patients.