title: Continuum of renoprotection with losartan at all stages of type 2 diabetic nephropathy: a post hoc analysis of the RENAAL trial results.
abstract: Renin angiotensin system inhibitor therapy is seldom offered to individuals who have diabetes and advanced chronic kidney disease because of safety concerns. In this post hoc, secondary analysis of the Reduction of Endpoints in NIDDM with the Angiotensin II Antagonist Losartan (RENAAL) trial, angiotensin antagonism risk/benefit profile was assessed in 1513 individuals with type 2 diabetes and overt nephropathy. Incidence of ESRD, hospitalizations for heart failure, withdrawals for adverse events, and proteinuria during losartan or conventional treatment were compared within three tertiles of baseline serum creatinine concentration (highest, 2.1 to 3.6 mg/dl; middle, 1.6 to 2.0 mg/dl; lowest, 0.9 to 1.6 mg/dl). Losartan decreased the risk of ESRD by 24.6, 26.3, and 35.3% in highest, middle, and lowest tertiles, respectively. For every 100 patients with serum creatinine >2.0, 1.6 to 2.0, or <1.6 mg/dl, respectively, 4 yr of losartan therapy was estimated to save 18.9, 8.4, and 2.9 ESRD events and US$1,502,855, US$1,021,770, and US$528,591 costs for renal replacement therapy. Losartan also decreased the hospitalizations for heart failure by 50.2 and 45.1, in the highest and middle tertile, respectively. Withdrawals for adverse events other than heart failure were comparable between tertiles and treatment groups. Proteinuria decreased more on losartan than on placebo in all tertiles (highest, 24 versus -8%; middle, 16 versus -8%; lowest, 15 versus -10%). In proteinuric individuals with type 2 diabetes, losartan therapy reduced ESRD and hospitalizations for heart failure and was well tolerated at all levels of renal function. Angiotensin II antagonism is a suitable and well-tolerated treatment for individuals with type 2 diabetes even with GFR levels approaching renal replacement therapy.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Center for Rare Diseases Aldo e Cele Daccò, Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research, Via Gavazzeni 11, 24125 Bergamo, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Remuzzi
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ruggenenti
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Perna
authors.forename: Borislav D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Dimitrov
authors.forename: Dick
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: de Zeeuw
authors.forename: Darcy A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Hille
authors.forename: Shahnaz
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shahinfar
authors.forename: George W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Carides
authors.forename: Barry M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Brenner
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics; D017046:Cost Savings; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications* / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000453:epidemiology; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D006977:Hypertension, Renal / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology; D015994:Incidence; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology; D019808:Losartan / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D019808:Losartan