title: Effect of trandolapril on regression of retinopathy in hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes: a prespecified analysis of the benedict trial.
abstract: Background. The effect of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) on regression of retinopathy in type 2 diabetics is still ill defined. Methods. We compared the incidence of retinopathy regression in 90 hypertensive type 2 diabetics randomized to at least 3-year blinded ACEi with trandolapril (2 mg/day) or non-ACEi therapy who had preproliferative or proliferative retinopathy at baseline. Results. Over a median (interquartile range) follow-up period of 35.8 (12.4-60.7) months, retinopathy regressed in 27 patients (30.0%). Regression occurred in 18 of 42 patients (42.9%) on ACEi and in 9 of 48 (18.8%) on non-ACEi therapy (adjusted for predefined baseline covariates HR (95% CI): 2.75 (1.18-6.42), P = .0193). Concomitant treatment with or without Non-Dihydropyridine Calcium Channel Blockers (ndCCBs) did not appreciably affect the incidence of retinopathy regression. Conclusions. Unlike ndCCB, ACEi therapy may have an additional effect to that of intensified BP and metabolic control in promoting regression of diabetic retinopathy.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Center for Rare Diseases 'Aldo & Cele Daccò', Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research, Negri Bergamo Laboratories, Via Gavazzeni, 11, 24125 Bergamo, Italy.
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ruggenenti
authors.forename: Ilian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Iliev
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Filipponi
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tadini
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Perna
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ganeva
authors.forename: Bogdan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ene-Iordache
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cravedi
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Trevisan
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bossi
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Remuzzi