Background: There is, to our knowledge, no study that has directly compared angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) with angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) in hypertensive patients with overt diabetic nephropathy (DNP). We tried to analyze the outcomes of hypertensive patients with overt type 2 DNP who used only ACEIs or ARBs.
Methods: The patients who had an estimated creatinine clearance <90 ml/min and hypertension or had been using antihypertensive drug(s) at presentation were included in the study. The patients were classified as ACEI group and ARB group.
Results: A total of 100 patients (55 men and 45 women, mean age 61.8 +/- 9.16 years) were included in the study. Mean duration of follow-up was 24.6 +/- 14.1 months. Baseline demographics, biochemical analyses and blood pressures were similar. Renal functions and proteinuria of both groups did not show any significant changes during follow-up. Blood pressure courses were also similar. Although the mean doubling time of creatinine in the ARB group was shorter than the ACEI group, it was not statistically significant. During the follow-up period, 4 patients died (2 in the ACEI group, 2 in the ARB group) and 10 patients were started on dialysis (7 in the ACEI group, 3 in the ARB group). Serum creatinine and the amount of proteinuria were the baseline parameters which were related to the initiation of dialysis.
Conclusion: ACEIs and ARBs have similar outcomes in overt DNP. Their renoprotective effects can be observed in spite of uncontrolled hypertension.
(c) 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel.