U.S. medical investigators say anti-inflammatory drugs appear to help block the rapid kidney destruction that can be caused by hypertension.

Medical College of Georgia researchers said they've discovered treating hypertensive rats with the broad-acting anti-inflammatory drug pentosan polysulfate preserves the kidney's ability to regulate pressure placed on tiny filters called glomeruli. The structures are responsible for filtering the body's total plasma volume 60 times daily.

Despite the discovery, Dr. Edward Inscho, the study's corresponding author, said using the drug is not a treatment option, primarily because of side effects that can result from long-term use of anti-inflammatory drugs.

The scientists said hypertension and diabetes take a similar toll on kidneys and together are creating a rapidly growing number of patients in kidney failure.

"The number of people going to dialysis because of these two maladies just grows exponentially so there is a really good reason to figure this out," said Inscho, who recently received a $1.8 million, five-year National Institutes of Health grant to work on the problem.

The new findings are reported in the American Journal of Physiology -- Renal Physiology.

Source : http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2010/05/18/Some-drugs-stop-hypertensive-kidney-damage/UPI-84981274198338/