Renovascular and renoprotective properties of telmisartan: clinical utility

Review

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Authors: Marco Ladino, Ivonne Hernandez Schulman

Published Date March 2010 Volume 2010:3 Pages 33 - 38

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/IJNRD.S7033

Marco Ladino, Ivonne Hernandez Schulman

Nephrology-Hypertension Section, Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Division of Nephrology and Hypertension and Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA

Abstract: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects approximately 26 million adults in the United States and millions of others are at increased risk. Type 2 diabetes and hypertension are the two main causes of CKD. Blood pressure control is critical to slow the progression of CKD. Despite adequate control, however, patients continue to progress to end-stage renal disease. Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) are commonly used in the management of hypertension and CKD and have been shown to exert renoprotective effects that are in addition to, but independent of, blood pressure lowering. Telmisartan is a long-acting ARB with pharmacological properties beyond blockade of the angiotensin II type 1 receptor, including activation of the peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ). This article reviews the beneficial renal and vascular protective effects of telmisartan.

Keywords: kidney diseases, hypertension, vascular diseases, angiotensin II receptor, PPAR-γ