Loop diuretics Enalapril

The client diagnosed with chronic hypertension is prescribed furosemide (Lasix), a loop diuretic, and enalapril (Vasotec), an ACE inhibitor. The client s blood pressures for the last 3 weeks have averaged 178/95, and the HCP has added atenolol (Tenormin), a beta blocker, to the client s current medication regimen. Which statement is the scientific rationale for including this medication in the client s regimen ... 

The risk of ACE inhibitor-induced renal impairment in patients with or without renovascular disease can be potentiated by diuretics. " In an analysis of 74 patients who had been treated with captopril or lisinopril, reversible acute renal failure was more coimnon in those who were also treated with a diuretic (furosemide and/or hydrochlorothiazide) than those who were not (11 of 33 patients compared with 1 of 41 patients). Similarly, in a prescription-event monitoring study, enalapril was associated with raised creatinine or urea in 75 patients and it was thought to have contributed to the deterioration in renal function and subsequent deaths in 10 of these patients. However, 9 of these 10 were also receiving loop or thiazide diuretics, sometimes in high doses. Retrospective analysis of a controlled study in patients with hypertensive nephrosclerosis identified 8 of 34 patients who developed reversible renal impairment when treated with enalapril and various other antihypertensives including a diuretic (furosemide or hydrochlorothiazide). In contrast, 23 patients treated with placebo and various other antihypertensives did not develop renal impairment. Subsequently, enalapril was tolerated by 7 of the 8 patients without deterioration in renal function and 6 of these patients later received diuretics. One patient was again treated with enalapril with recurrence of renal impairment, but discontinuation of the diuretics (furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide, and triamterene) led to an improvement in renal function despite the continuation of enalapril. ... 

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