role of calcium channel blockers in the treatment of diabetic nephropathy

ABSTRACT

Diabetic nephropathy [DNP] is a chronic renal disease [CRD] and a major cause of illness and premature death in people with diabetes mellitus [DM]. It is the single most important cause of end-stage renal disease in the Western world and accounts for more than a quarter of all end-stage renal diseases. This article reviews the current development in DNP and the therapeutic challenge with particular reference to the role of calcium channel blockers. Moreover, renal ischaemia hastens the progression of DNP. Diltiazem and amlodipine have a tendency to reverse the changed parameters toward normal values but do not affect the biochemical parameters. Generally speaking, diltiazem is better than amlodipine in reversing biochemical and histopathological changes produced by DNP, and captopril reverses most of the changed parameters with the exception of the histopathological changes. These agents have nephroprotective properties and delay the progression of DNP