title: Hypertension management in patients with diabetic nephropathy.
abstract: Treatment of hypertension, to reverse and delay proteinuria progression and kidney failure, is the primary focus of medical management in patients with diabetic nephropathy. The initial choice for hypertension treatment in those with early nephropathy involves agents that block the renin-angiotensin system. However, it is not clear what the best choices for further drug therapy management are, because there are few data concerning the impact that antihypertensive drug combinations have on hard clinical outcomes, such as preventing the need for dialysis, and death. Patients usually require several drugs for controlling hypertension, which becomes harder to control as nephropathy progresses. In this review, it is suggested that quantitatively tracking proteinuria to guide therapy and a broad focus on the cardiovascular and renal end points are important for best outcomes in patients. Strategies may vary based on stage of disease, comorbidities, and age. Therapies not directed specifically at hypertension may also significantly aid hypertension management in prevention of progressive nephropathy, comorbidities, and mortality.
authors.affiliation: University of Virginia Health System, Center for Diabetes & Hormone Excellence, Endocrinology Division, 450 Ray C. Hunt Drive, PO Box 801407, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA. alm3j@virginia.edu
authors.forename: Anthony L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: McCall
mesh_terms: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D018450:Disease Progression; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000517:prevention & control; D007668:Kidney / Q000503:physiopathology; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors