benazepril and trandolapril

When first introduced in 1981, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors were indicated only for treatment of refractory hypertension. Since then, they have been shown to reduce morbidity or mortality in congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, diabetes mellitus, chronic renal insufficiency, and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Pathologies underlying these conditions are, in part, attributable to the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Angiotensin II contributes to endothelial dysfunction. altered renal hemodynamics, and vascular and cardiac hypertrophy. ACE inhibitors attenuate these effects. Clinical outcomes of ACE inhibition include decreases in myocardial infarction (fatal and nonfatal), reinfarction, angina, stroke, end-stage renal disease, and morbidity and mortality associated with heart failure. ACE inhibitors are generally well tolerated and have few contraindications. (Am Fam Physician 2002;66:473.)

Topics: Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Antihypertensive Agents; Benzazepines; Captopril; Cardiovascular Diseases; Clinical Trials as Topic; Contraindications; Diabetic Nephropathies; Drug Costs; Enalapril; Fosinopril; Heart Failure; Humans; Hypertension; Indoles; Isoquinolines; Lisinopril; Meta-Analysis as Topic; Myocardial Infarction; Perindopril; Quinapril; Ramipril; Renin-Angiotensin System; Risk; Tetrahydroisoquinolines; United States

Diabetic nephropathy management should include the use of an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) or an angiotensin receptor blocker with additional antihypertensive medications to reduce proteinuria and cardiovascular events. Some studies suggest that adding a nondihydropyridine rather than a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker (CCB) may more effectively lower proteinuria. We hypothesized that a trandolapril/verapamil SR (T/V) fixed-dose combination (FDC) was superior to a benazepril/amlodipine (B/A) FDC for reducing albuminuria in 304 hypertensive diabetic nephropathy patients when treated for 36 weeks. No statistically significant differences were observed between groups in the primary end point; adjusted percentage change in urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (UACR), which increased (mean T/V, 29.29%; mean B/A, 8.49%; difference, 20.80%; P=.34); or in change in absolute UACR, which decreased (mean [g/g] T/V, -0.11; mean [g/g] B/A, -0.08; difference -0.03; P=.78). There were significant reductions in log UACR (mean change in T/V, -0.28; P<.01; mean change in B/A, -0.31; P<.001) and diastolic blood pressure in both groups and in systolic blood pressure in the B/A group. T/V was not superior to B/A for reducing UACR. Both ACEI/CCB FDCs may reduce albuminuria; in the case of T/V, this appears to be independent of systolic blood pressure reduction in patients who had previously been treated and had baseline blood pressure levels of 142/77 mm Hg.

Topics: Aged; Albuminuria; Amlodipine; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Antihypertensive Agents; Benzazepines; Blood Pressure; Calcium Channel Blockers; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Diabetic Nephropathies; Drug Synergism; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Humans; Indoles; Male; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies; Proteinuria; Treatment Outcome; Verapamil

Evidence suggests that the effectiveness of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition diminishes with time, resulting in increasing angiotensin II levels, the action of which can be inhibited by the addition of an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB). In the present study, the renal protective effects of ACE inhibitors and ARBs were compared over a five-year period in a prospective, randomized, open-blind study in 68 nondiabetic Japanese patients with elevated serum creatinine levels.. Japanese patients with renal insufficiency were randomly assigned to receive either an ACE inhibitor (benazepril 1.25 to 5 mg daily or trandolapril 0.5 to 4 mg daily) or ARB (candesartan 2 to 8 mg daily or losartan 25 to 100 mg daily) at the Kidney Disease Center at Saitama Medical School Hospital. The primary study endpoint was a change in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) between the baseline value and the last available value obtained during the five-year treatment period, as estimated by the Cockcraft-Gault equation. Secondary endpoints included the annual changes in GFR, serum creatinine level, urinary protein excretion, and blood pressure, as well as the rate of development of endstage renal disease.. There were no significant differences in the primary endpoint between the two groups. However, after 4 years, the decline in GFR in patients treated with ARBs was significantly greater than that seen in patients treated with an ACE inhibitor (p<0.05). Furthermore, the rate of introduction of dialysis therapy was also significantly greater in the ARB-treated patients (52.7% in ACE inhibitor and 81.2% in ARB group at year 5. p<0.01).. While our data suggested that ARB, like ACE, treatment might slow the progression of renal dysfunction, it also pointed to the necessity to be alerted to the progression to endstage renal disease with longterm medication.

Topics: Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Benzazepines; Benzimidazoles; Biphenyl Compounds; Blood Pressure; Chronic Disease; Creatinine; Female; Glomerular Filtration Rate; Glomerulonephritis; Humans; Indoles; Losartan; Male; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies; Renal Insufficiency; Tetrazoles