Abstract
Diabetic nephropathy is the commonest cause of dialysis-dependent chronic renal failure Inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system by angiotensin antagonists in type 2 diabetes slows down, but does not stop the progression of chronic renal failure. Sequential blockade of the renin-angiotensin system (with angiotensin antagonists and inhibitors of angiotensin converting enzyme, or with angiotensin antagonists and renin inhibitors) is not more effective compared to monotherapy with angiotensin antagonists and is associated with higher occurrence of hyperkalemia and increased cardiovascular risk.
Currently new drugs with the potential impact on renal haemodynamics (endothelin antagonists), inflammation (CCR2 inhibitors) and glomerulosclerosis and interstitial fibrosis (anti-TGFbeta antibodies) are tested in clinical studies. Combination of multiple interventions targeting different pathogenic pathways may more effectively block the mechanisms of progression of chronic renal failure in diabetic nephropathy.