Hypertension-induced renal fibrosis and spironolactone response vary by rat strain and mineralocorticoid receptor gene expression.

Introduction: Aldosterone promotes renal fibrosis via the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR), thus contributing to hypertension-induced nephropathy. We investigated whether MR gene expression influences renal fibrosis and MR antagonist response in a two-kidney, one-clip hypertensive rat model.

Materials And Methods: Brown Norway (BN), Lewis, and ACI rats were randomised to spironolactone 20 mg/kg/day or water by gavage, starting four weeks after left renal artery clipping.

Racial differences in patients' potassium concentrations during spironolactone therapy for heart failure.

Study Objective: To determine whether the effects of spironolactone on potassium homeostasis vary by race by comparing serum potassium concentrations and potassium supplement use in African-American and Caucasian patients receiving spironolactone for heart failure.

Design: Retrospective medical record review.

Setting: Two heart failure centers.