ABSTRACT
The beneficial effect angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) and angiotensin II receptor antagonists (ARA) for diabetic nephropathy can be hampered by the phenomenon of aldosterone escape. Aldosterone antagonists such as espironolactone or epleronone could potentiate the effects of ACEI and ARA and avoid the later problem. We performed a systematic search of the literature on the effects of aldosterone antagonists on diabetic nephropathy. We searched for clinical trials and follow up studies measuring the effects of aldosterone antagonists on urinary albumin excretion among patients with diabetic nephropathy. We retrieved 1345 papers on the subject and 10 were selected for analysis. Among these, spironolactone was more effective than comparing drugs to achieve a reduction in urinary albumin excretion of approximately 30 to 40 percent. On the other hand epleronone was not superior to comparing drugs. All studies reported a modest reduction in glomerular filtration rate and an increase in serum potassium levels. In conclusion, spironolactone in doses of 25 to 100 mg/day reduces urinary albumin excretion but reduces also glomerular filtration rate and increases serum potassium levels.