title: Endothelin Receptor Antagonists: New Hope for Renal Protection?
abstract: Endothelin receptor antagonists (ERAs) have the potential to be a new paradigm in the treatment of chronic kidney disease (CKD). ERAs inhibit the effects of endothelin-1 (ET-1), which is known to promote CKD by causing renal cellular injury, proteinuria, inflammation, fibrosis, and hypertrophy. ERAs have been extensively studied preclinically in models of CKD and now in a large clinical trial to determine their effect on slowing the progression of CKD. Initial clinical trials show promise with regard to ERA effects on reducing proteinuria in patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN) who are already on renin-angiotensin system (RAS) blocking agents. A common side effect of peripheral edema has been consistently reported in clinical trials using ERAs; hence, finding a safe balance between renoprotective actions and side effects needs to be achieved.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, Sheldon.Tobe@sunnybrook.ca.
authors.forename: Sheldon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tobe
authors.forename: Donald E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Kohan
authors.forename: Ranjit
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Singarayer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019610:Cytoprotection; D065128:Endothelin Receptor Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016232:Endothelins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D007668:Kidney / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D065128:Endothelin Receptor Antagonists; D016232:Endothelins