Abstract: Aim To evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness and safety of enalapril in patients of chronic glomerulonephritis with severe renal failure.Methods Forty-six patients with chronic glomerulonephritis were divided into three groups according to their creatinine clearance rate (Ccr) including 13 cases with Ccr more than 50 ml·min^-1 in high Ccr group, 17 cases with Ccr more than 25 ml·min^-1 and less than 50 ml·min^-1 in mid Ccr group and 16 cases with Ccr less than 25 ml·min^-1 in low Ccr group.All patients were observed 2 mon before the 4 mon of enalapril treatment.The evaluation of efficiency was concluded in the follow ing 2 mon.Urinary protein and albumin clearance rate, renal function and serum potassium were measured every month.Results Enalapril could reduce urinary protein in high and mid Ccr group more effectively than in low Ccr group.Ccr in high and mid Ccr group was recovered soon but not in low Ccr group since all the patients' Ccr decreased by enalapril.Furthermore, serum potassium in low Ccr group grew slig htly.Conclusion Enalapril can safely decrease the urinary protein in patient s of chronic glomerulonephritis with severe renal failure.

Key words: enalapril, renal failure, chronic glomerulonephritis