Angiotensin converting enzyme(ACE) inhibitors
used as antihypertensives may have some
immunological effects depending on whether they
have sulfhydryl (SH) group in their chemical
structure or not. Captopril which has SH group
induced in mice antinuclear antibodies with a
homogenous pattern. Also, kidney of mice treated
with captopril for 12 weeks showed by direct
immunofluorescent test granular IgG immune
deposits along glomerular basement membrane (GBM).
Measurement of IgA and IgG in sera of mice treated
with captopril showed significant reduction in the
level of IgA and IgG ( PC 0.05 ). Mice treated
with fosinopril which has not SH group did not
show antinuclear antibodies in their sera or renal
immune deposits. Also, mice treated with
fosinopril did no show significant reduction in
IgA and IgG in their sera. |
