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Biomedical subjects

G Maschio

Publications and source records attributed to G Maschio.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Introduction

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Journal Article↗

The role of systemic hypertension in the progression of nondiabetic renal disease.

BACKGROUND: A role for hypertension in the progression of renal disease has been convincingly shown in experimental animals only. In human studies, the relation between hypertension and progression is difficult to demonstrate due to several confounding factors: age, gender, race; the difficult choice of blood pressure (BP) parameters that correlate with progression; the abnormal circadian BP pattern; and the many non-hemodynamic factors of progression. An important role for hypertension in progressive nondiabetic renal disease has been suggested by observational studies and clinical trials originally intended to evaluate the effect of dietary protein restriction on progression. In addition, several studies, summarized by a recent meta-analysis, have shown that pharmacological agents which lower both BP and proteinuria, mainly the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI), significantly slow the rate of progression in these diseases. METHODS: In this article we review the effect of lowering BP on the progression of nondiabetic chronic renal disease, the patient characteristics that are associated with a greater or lesser benefit of blood pressure reduction, and the choice of antihypertensive regimens associated with better outcomes in patients with renal disease. RESULTS: Lower levels of achieved BP are associated with a slower decline in renal function, both in patients with and without proteinuria. ACEI are effective BP lowering agents and are associated with better preservation of renal function as opposed to antihypertensive regimens without ACEI. This protective effect of ACEI is in addition to their BP and urine protein lowering effects. The protective effect of ACEI on renal function is more pronounced in patients with proteinuria. CONCLUSION: In patients with nondiabetic renal disease and proteinuria, the risk of progression can be minimized by lowering both BP and proteinuria. ACEI have an additional beneficial effect.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and kidney protection: the AIPRI trial. The ACE Inhibition in Progressive Renal Insufficiency (AIPRI) Study Group.

A protective effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors has been shown in patients with diabetic nephropathy but has not been clearly established in nondiabetic renal disease. A multicenter European study was designed to determine whether the ACE inhibitor benazepril was safe and effective in protecting residual renal function in patients with various renal diseases and mild to moderate renal failure. The trial involved 583 patients from 49 centers in Italy, France, and Germany. The patients were randomized to receive benazepril or placebo plus other antihypertensive agents, the target being a diastolic blood pressure of less than 90 mm Hg. Thirty-one patients in the benazepril group and 57 patients in the placebo group reached the end point [the time elapsed from entry to (a) doubling of serum creatinine (SCr) concentrations and (b) start of renal replacement therapy; p < 0.001 at 3 years]. The associated reduction in the relative risk of reaching the end point was 53% in benazepril-treated patients, with actuarial renal survival probability significantly better at 3 years. The best survival of renal function was observed in patients with chronic glomerular diseases and proteinuria greater than 1.0 g/24 h. Benazepril is effective in slowing the rate of progression and improving the survival of renal function in patients with renal diseases of various origins. This protective effect is associated with a clinically relevant decrease in both blood pressure and proteinuria.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗

Progression of renal failure in diabetic nephropathy.

The onset of renal damage in diabetes mellitus may be influenced by several factors which largely result from genetic predisposition, hereditary factors and the early appearance of microalbuminuria and/or systemic hypertension. Most of these factors are also implicated in the progression of nephropathy from microalbuminuria to overt proteinuria and to end-stage renal failure (ESRF). Over the last few years, the role of hyperglycaemia has emerged as critical in mediating the progressive renal damage in diabetes. However, hyperglycaemia leads to increased formation of glycated proteins which may act as promoters of progression by localizing in renal tissue. In addition, hyperglycaemia may have a synergistic effect with some other risk factors, such as growth factors and the renin angiotensin system, in accelerating renal deterioration.

Albuminuria↗

Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors in nondiabetic renal disease.

The class of antihypertensive agents that act by blocking angiotensin II has been shown in several experimental models to have the interesting ability to protect the kidney. In patients with nondiabetic renal disease, a number of controlled clinical trials have shown angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors to achieve a better control of blood pressure and significantly reduce the rate of progression of renal failure in comparison with conventional agents. In addition, treatment with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors has helped to achieve new information on the optimal blood pressure target to be reached in order to protect the residual renal function maximally.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗

A prospective, randomized trial of two antibiotic regimens in the treatment of peritonitis in CAPD patients: teicoplanin plus tobramycin versus cephalothin plus tobramycin.

A multicentre, comparative, randomized study was performed to compare the efficacy and tolerability of two antibiotic regimens in the treatment of peritonitis in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients: teicoplanin plus tobramycin versus cephalothin plus tobramycin. After informed consent had been obtained, 68 patients were randomized prospectively to receive either teicoplanin plus tobramycin or cephalothin plus tobramycin. Patients were followed throughout the study and for up to 4 weeks after the end of treatment, when clinical and microbiological parameters were assessed again. The incidence of clinical failure was 4.6 times higher in the cephalothin plus tobramycin group than in the teicoplanin plus tobramycin group (7/28 versus 2/37; P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in bacterial eradication between the two groups. Local and systemic tolerability were good for both regimens. The study shows that teicoplanin plus tobramycin is more effective than cephalothin plus tobramycin and might become a 'first-line' treatment for peritonitis in CAPD patients.

Aged↗

Diuretics in hypertension.

Despite the consistent reduction in the incidence of stroke and coronary events demonstrated in numerous clinical trials in young and elderly hypertensive subjects, the use of diuretics has declined as a first-line therapy in hypertension. The metabolic dose-dependent side effects and the increasing availability of new drugs appear the two main reasons for the decline. Although the neutral metabolic effects and the perception of a more physiological approach to hypertension has been advocated with the newer agents, no definite proof has been reported on the long-term effects on cardiovascular end-points. Many of adverse effects of diuretics can be limited by the use of low doses. For this reason, as well as their efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness, diuretics should remain a first-line therapy for hypertensive patients.

Diuretics↗

Long-term progression of chronic renal insufficiency in the AIPRI Extension Study. The Angiotensin-Converting-Enzyme Inhibition in Progressive Renal Insufficiency Study Group.

The Angiotensin-converting-enzyme Inhibition on Progressive Renal Insufficiency (AIPRI) Study showed that the ACE inhibitor benazepril provides protection against loss of renal function in patients with chronic renal insufficiency (CRI) caused by various renal diseases. As a result of unexpectedly low mortality in the placebo group, there was a substantial imbalance in mortality during the course of this study (8 patients on benazepril vs. 1 on placebo). The aim of the extension study was to follow-up the patients from the AIPRI core study until autumn 1996, focusing on CRI progression and mortality. Data collection was post hoc. Patients were treated according to investigators' usual practices, without knowledge of the core study trial medication or (initially) the core trial results. A new primary efficacy parameter was defined as the time from the start of core study treatment to the occurrence of the first event in the combined composite end-point of dialysis, renal transplantation or death related to renal disease. Serial serum creatinine levels and all-cause mortality were also recorded. The median total follow-up for core + extension periods was 6.6 years. Many patients from both treatment groups (64% on benazepril and 61% on placebo) received ACE inhibitors during follow-up. In the intention-to-treat analysis of the core + extension data, only 79 of 300 patients from the benazepril group, compared to 102 of the 283 patients from the placebo group needed dialysis or renal transplantation, or died related to renal disease (P < 0.013, log-rank test). The mortality imbalance seen in the core trial was not evident with the longer follow-up (25 deaths in the benazepril and 23 in the placebo group, before dialysis). These data clearly demonstrate a long-term beneficial effect in patients randomized to take benazepril during the core study, but because treatment during the extension period was not randomized, the results of this intention-to-treat analysis need to be interpreted with care.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗