title: New clinical investigations with selective angiotensin II receptor blocker therapy in diabetes and renal disease.
abstract: Halting the reduction in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is the primary aim of any treatment of patients presenting with progressive chronic renal failure, a very common corollary to diabetes. To improve GFR, the high blood pressure (BP) and proteinuria often seen in these patients must both be controlled. These symptoms lead not only to progressive loss of renal function, but also to an increase in cardiovascular risk. Use of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors in these patients has been reported to control BP and reduce protein excretion and cardiovascular risk. Complete blockade of angiotensin II (Ang II) action with the highly selective Ang II receptor blocker (ARB) valsartan, both as monotherapy and in combination with ACE inhibitors, is well-tolerated and efficacious in patients with renal failure. Unlike ACE inhibition, ARB treatment leads to no initial reduction in GFR, thus valsartan may be a better agent for the control of BP, with greater renal protection.
authors.affiliation: Hypertension Unit, Hospital 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain. Luis_M_Ruilope@teleline.es
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Ruilope
mesh_terms: D000419:Albuminuria / Q000188:drug therapy; D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000188:drug therapy; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014633:Valine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068756:Valsartan
chemical_list: D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D013777:Tetrazoles; D000068756:Valsartan; D014633:Valine