[helloos]

Hello !

I went to the kidney doctor for a follow up and did a second 24 hour urine and it was normal too. So she thinks there is minor kidney involvement as I have had 5 urine micro samples done shown protein, blood, etc. etc. etc.... she said my blood work was normal and she was a bit suprised as she thought it wouldn't be. But she said she reviewed my records from rhemo and she checked my back and chest and I had a rash there - not unusual as I sitting under the florescent lights..... so she said she wanted to put me on ____ inhibitor.....now I cannot remember but she said it was to prevent any kidney problems from occurring as protection. She said the only problem is the side effect can lower your blood pressure and I seem to have that problem and that she would be concerned about that. She said she would put me on a pediatric dose and keep close watch of the pressure. she wanted to talk with heart doctor first (who I saw and the second ekg was normal ) hmmmmm.....

So just wondering if anyone else has heard of this so called inhibitor. I asked if I chose not to take it and she said then you just wait it out and we are doing blood and urine every two months. She said if you do take it, it could prevent some things from happening as protection.

Thanks in advance !

 

[Maia]

I think you're in a similar position to me. I was put on a medication called enalapril, which is an ACE inhibitor. This is done to protect the kidneys and hopefully lessen risk of the protein leakage getting worse.

In my case, I've had a couple of +1 readings, and a couple of GFR readings in the upper 50s (should be above 90); after the protein increased to +1 I was put on this at a very low dose. Probably pediatric dose - and I am to take it at night to reduce the too low of blood pressure risk and fainting from standing up too fast during the day. I tend to have good to low blood pressure, hence the reason for the low dose and taking it at night.

I've had no troublesome side effects from this drug. It appears to help, protein has been only trace since going on it, and GFR increased to mid 60's although I also had to stop taking all NSAID drugs so this could be responsible in part or in full too.

I think I will ask at my next appointment if I can try going off it to see what happens. Been on it for over a year now. Then we will know if it was the NSAID stop or the ACE inhibitor that's been responsible for the improvement.

PS: Statistics stay that only about 50% of lupus patients have serious kidney involvement, but studies done/autopsies done after death (from any reason) have shown about 90% of SLE patients have evidence of kidney damage but of a minor nature probably due to disease. So it is very common to have minor kidney damage with lupus, of a sort that doesn't need aggressive treatment and many don't need any treatment at all.

 

[granola]

Greetings, while I was in severe kidney failure I took many drugs and ace inhibitors- after levels were improving, Lisinopril was the one my nephrologist called my kidney protector. I stayed on this drug for a year after being stable. It does lower BP. I am thankful everday, kidney function improved from 21% to 52%. Good luck with your treatment. granola