Aldosterone antagonists: silver bullet or just sodium excretion and potassium retention?
ACE inhibitors or AT(1) antagonists are powerful therapeutic strategies to slow the progression of renal disease. However, they provide only imperfect protection since they cannot always prevent end-stage renal failure. Innovative approaches are needed to keep patients with chronic kidney disease off dialysis. Blockade of the aldosterone pathway may prove to be such a beneficial therapeutic concept.
Wenzel
U
U
University Hospital of Hamburg, Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Hamburg, Germany. wenzel@uke.uni-hamburg.de
D000450:Aldosterone / Q000502:physiology; D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000451:Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism*; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism*
D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000451:Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists; D000450:Aldosterone; D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium