The Effect of Losartan on Preventing Chronic Allograft Nephropathy

Objective To observe whether losartan, a specific angiotensin Ⅱ receptor antagonist, has a role in preventing chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN) in renal transplant recipients.Urine TGF-β 1 concentration was tested in 138 renal transplant recipients with normal renal function. Thirty eight recipients whose urine TGF-β 1 concentrations were higher than 250.0 pg/mg were studied. They were divided equally into two groups randomly. 19 cases in each. Group A was treated with losartan for at least 1 years, and in group B losartan was not used, as control.Renal function and urine TGF-β 1 concentration were compared between the two groups.Three years later, there were more loss of renal function and more number of CAN cases in group B than group A. Urine TGF-β 1 concentration in group B grew gradually. The differences in the two groups were significant. No side effects were noted in all patients who had taken losartan.[Conclusion]Losartan can prevent CAN in renal transplant recipients through reducing TGF-β 1 secretion in the kidney.