Effects of valsartan vs captopril on some renal function tests in hypertensive patients

Objectives: To investigate the effects of valsartan and captopril on some renal function tests (RFTs) in patients with essential hypertension.Patients and methods: A total of 40 patients with stage I essential hypertension were recruited and investigated for RFTs which include, blood urea, serum creatinine, creatinine clearance, serum sodium and serum potassium. The patients were divided into 2 groups, namely the valsartan group which consisted of 20 patients and the captopril group which consisted of 20 patients. The patient groups were followed- up for 8 weeks during which RFTs were measured before starting therapies and at the end of the follow-up period using commercially available kits. The patient groups were compared with a control group consisted of 30 apparently healthy subjects.Results: The RFTs at baseline in both patient groups were found elevated as compared to the control group (p < 0.001), except for serum potassium concentration which was comparable . The RFTs in patient groups were comparable before and after therapies.Conclusion: The use of valsartan and captopril for 8 weeks in hypertensive patients has no adverse effects on RFTs.