All diabetics fear kidney disease. Many believe that beyond tight control of their blood sugar and controlling high blood pressure, not much else can be done. Happily, this is not the only weapons to fight kidney disease in this population that we have. Certain classes of blood pressure drugs are routinely used by the doctors of The Kidney Group to slow and in some cases stop progression of kidney disease in diabetics.
"ACE inhibition was shown to demonstrate a reno-protective effect in diabetics." says Dr. Carlos Bejar of The Kidney Group. " Dr. Ed Lewis from Chicago showed this in studies he conducted in the 1990's. A subsequent trial by Dr. Julie Breyer at Vanderbilt with ARB drugs showed the same effect." said Bejar.
Bejar went on to say that a new trial (the AASK study)done in the past year showed African American patients could benefit from these driugs as well. A new class of drugs-RAAS-which stands for renin angio aldosterone system-works to achieve the same goal but in a different way. "Tekturna is one such new drug," said Bejar,"it inhibits renin at the point of attack." He expressed hope that this would lead towards reduced numbers of diabetics with advanced kidney disease.
"I recommend early screening of kidney function in all diabetics" he said, "and at least yearly after that. If we treat them promptly we can forestall the damage. Early nephrologic intervention with the proper drug therapy can greatly reduce the numbers progressing towards end stage renal disease."
