title: Evolution of drugs that preserve renal function.
abstract: Over the past 50 years, many advances have been made in slowing the progression of renal disease from various causes. These advances have been primarily linked to defining new lower levels for blood pressure goals as well as understanding the importance of proteinuria reduction. To achieve these goals, it is also appreciated that agents that lower blood pressure must also lower proteinuria. This is not true for all antihypertensive drug classes--notably, direct-acting vasodilators, alpha-blockers, and dihydropyridine calcium antagonists. Interestingly, antihypertensive agents that also reduce proteinuria have been associated with cardiovascular risk reduction. Moreover, an understanding of combinations of antihypertensive medications that provide additive reductions in proteinuria may be even more efficacious for slowing renal disease progression. It is hoped that these advances and the projected advances in pharmacogenetics will reduce the current increasing incidence of people going on dialysis.
authors.affiliation: Rush Hypertension/Clinical Research Center, Department of Preventive Medicine, Rush Presbyterian/St. Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Basta
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Bakris
mesh_terms: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000266:history / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D018450:Disease Progression; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D014665:Vasodilator Agents