Albuminuria, a therapeutic target for cardiovascular protection in type 2 diabetic patients with nephropathy.
BACKGROUND
Albuminuria is an established risk marker for both cardiovascular and renal outcomes. Albuminuria can be reduced with drugs that block the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). We questioned whether the short-term drug-induced change in albuminuria would predict the long-term cardioprotective efficacy of RAS intervention.


RESULTS
We analyzed data from Reduction in Endpoints in Non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus with the Angiotensin II Antagonist Losartan (RENAAL), a double-blind, randomized trial in 1513 type 2 diabetic patients with nephropathy, focusing on the relationship between the prespecified cardiovascular end point (composite) or hospitalization for heart failure and baseline or reduction in albuminuria. Patients with high baseline albuminuria (> or =3 g/g creatinine) had a 1.92-fold (95% CI, 1.54 to 2.38) higher risk for the cardiovascular end point and a 2.70-fold (95% CI, 1.94 to 3.75) higher risk for heart failure compared with patients with low albuminuria (<1.5 g/g). Among all available baseline risk markers, albuminuria was the strongest predictor of cardiovascular outcome. The association between albuminuria and cardiovascular outcome was driven by those patients who also had a renal event. Modeling of the initial 6-month change in risk parameters showed that albuminuria reduction was the only predictor for cardiovascular outcome: 18% reduction in cardiovascular risk for every 50% reduction in albuminuria and a 27% reduction in heart failure risk for every 50% reduction in albuminuria.


CONCLUSIONS
Albuminuria is an important factor predicting cardiovascular risk in patients with type 2 diabetic nephropathy. Reducing albuminuria in the first 6 months appears to afford cardiovascular protection in these patients.
de Zeeuw
Dick
D
Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Groningen University Medical Center, Ant Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, Netherlands. d.de.zeeuw@med.rug.nl
Remuzzi
Giuseppe
G
Parving
Hans-Henrik
HH
Keane
William F
WF
Zhang
Zhongxin
Z
Shahinfar
Shahnaz
S
Snapinn
Steve
S
Cooper
Mark E
ME
Mitch
William E
WE
Brenner
Barry M
BM
D000368:Aged; D000419:Albuminuria / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D000789:Angina, Unstable / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications*; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015993:Life Tables; D019808:Losartan / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D015415:Biomarkers; D019808:Losartan