RENIN - ANGIOTENSIN SYSTEM EFFECTS ON DIABETIC PATIENTS WITH MICROALBUMINURIA

Abstract

The diabetic nephropathy, multifactorial disorder that results from interaction between both environmental and genetic factors, is the most common cause of end stage renal failure in the developed countries.

Microalbuminuria, the first sign of renal injury, have been demonstrated to be a strong, independent marker for renal involvement, as well as for cardiovascular disease and overall mortality in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

The new information strongly correlates development of microalbuminuria with the renin-angiotensin system, a major regulatory system of cardiovascular and renal function.

Both angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers are recognized as first-line antihypertensive therapy at diabetic patients with nephropathy. The benefits of these drugs on reducing the progression of nephropathy exceed their antihypertensive effects, that claim other mechanisms to be also involved.