title: Antiproteinuric effects of angiotensin receptor blockers: telmisartan versus valsartan in hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and overt nephropathy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Renin-angiotensin system blockade reduces proteinuria and prevents nephropathy progression in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). Experimental evidence demonstrates that angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) possess anti-inflammatory potential, which might contribute to reducing proteinuria and providing renoprotection.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a multicentre, double-blind, prospective, parallel-group non-inferiority study of 885 hypertensive [systolic blood pressure/diastolic blood pressure (SBP/DBP) >130/80 mmHg] patients with T2D, proteinuria (> or =900 mg/24 h) and serum creatinine (< or =3.0 mg/dl) who were randomized to once-daily telmisartan 80 mg or valsartan 160 mg; additional antihypertensive therapy was permitted. The primary endpoint was the change from baseline in the 24-h proteinuria after 12 months. Secondary endpoints included changes in 24-h albuminuria, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and inflammatory parameters asymmetrical dimethylarginine (ADMA), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) and urinary 8-iso-prostaglandin F(2alpha) (8-iso-PGF(2alpha)).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Telmisartan and valsartan produced comparable reductions in 24-h urinary protein excretion rates: geometric mean reduction (95% confidence interval) [telmisartan, 33% (27-39%); valsartan, 33% (27-38%)]. No significant differences between treatments were seen in changes from baseline in 24-h urinary albumin excretion rate and eGFR at 12 months. With both treatments, greater renoprotection was seen among patients with better blood pressure control. No significant changes in ADMA or CRP were noted in either group after 12 months, but urinary 8-iso-PGF(2alpha) levels decreased by 14% with telmisartan and by 7% with valsartan (P = 0.040).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with T2D, hypertension and overt nephropathy, the renoprotection afforded by telmisartan and valsartan appears similar, and the study was unable to show any effect beyond that due to blood pressure control. At doses used to treat hypertension, there is no evidence of inflammatory parameters being modified by ARBs in patients with more advanced kidney disease due to T2D.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital, Würzburg, Germany. J.Galle@klinikum-luedenscheid.de
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Galle
authors.forename: Edzard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schwedhelm
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pinnetti
authors.forename: Rainer H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Böger
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wanner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001565:Benzoates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015237:Dinoprost / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000652:urine; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000077333:Telmisartan; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014633:Valine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068756:Valsartan
chemical_list: D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D001565:Benzoates; D013777:Tetrazoles; C075750:8-epi-prostaglandin F2alpha; C018524:N,N-dimethylarginine; D000068756:Valsartan; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D001120:Arginine; D015237:Dinoprost; D014633:Valine; D000077333:Telmisartan