Abstract
During the past few years, several major intervention trials have been conducted in an attempt to determine the efficacy of specific antihypertensive agents in retarding progression of diabetic nephropathy. These studies have clearly demonstrated the importance of renin-angiotensin system blockade in attenuating progressive renal disease. The preferred initial therapy is an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, or an angiotensin type I (AT1) receptor antagonist based on the recent 'landmark' proof-of-concept trials--the Irbesartan Type 2 Diabetic Nephropathy Trial (IDNT) and the Reduction of Endpoints in NIDDM with Angiotensin II Antagonist Losartan (RENAAL). However, these clinical trials also demonstrate that aggressive blood pressure targets are needed in patients with diabetes and hypertension. This frequently requires multiple-drug therapy with several different classes of antihypertensive agents. Data from several clinical trials, including RENAAL, suggest that calcium antagonists may be added to ACE inhibitor or AT1 receptor antagonist therapy as needed to achieve target blood pressure. Calcium antagonists could, therefore, constitute an important component of the antihypertensive regimen in the management of patients with diabetic nephropathy.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
