Effects of combined administration of ACE inhibitor and angiotensin II receptor antagonist are prevented by a high NaCl intake

Abstract

Background: To prevent the action of angiotensin II by blockade with either an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE I) or an angiotensin receptor antagonist (ARA) is difficult due to the physiological compensations. Combined therapy with both drugs may enable complete blockade, and in rats in high doses this has produced a syndrome that results in death. Objective: To determine the effect of combined blockade using losartan (10 mg/kg per day) and perindopril (6 mg/kg per day) on blood pressure, cardiac growth, renal function and behaviour, and to determine how this is influenced by different salt intakes in normotensive Sprague Dawley rats. Methods: Rats were fed an 0.2 or 4% NaCl di..