Although diabetic nephropathy is often a low renin state, the renin system appears to be
implicated in its pathogenesis. In this study, it was hypothesized that the low plasma renin
activity (PRA) is misleading, masking and perhaps reflecting an activated intrarenal renin
system. PRA and renal vascular responses (inulin and para-aminohippurate clearance) to
graded doses of an angiotensin II (AngII) antagonist, irbesartan, were assessed in eight
healthy volunteers and 12 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and nephropathy on a 10 …