title: Are calcium antagonists of value in ameliorating the course of chronic renal disease?
abstract: Renal protection is defined as an attenuation or significant slowing of the irrevocable decrease in renal function over time, which occurs subsequent to renal dysfunction. Control of systemic hypertension by whatever means exerts a renal protective effect. Evidence suggesting a specific action of individual antihypertensive agents is less certain. Calcium antagonists may exert a specific renal protective effect. Experiments in rats with reduced renal mass, desoxycorticosterone-induced hypertension, chronic angiotensin II infusion, and in spontaneously hypertensive rats support such a view. In three crossover trials, calcium antagonists reduced proteinuria in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Preliminary data from a single prospective trial in patients with renal insufficiency offer additional support; however, definitive conclusions cannot be reached without further trials. In particular, comparative trials of different classes of antihypertensive agents with equal blood pressure control are needed. Thus far, only reducing systemic blood pressure per se has been shown to be of value in attenuating hypertension-induced renal dysfunction in humans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine & Nephrology, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany.
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Luft
authors.forename: C I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Johnston
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D006801:Humans; D006977:Hypertension, Renal / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D002118:Calcium