Drug Protects Kidneys of Diabetics with High Blood Pressure
29th Sep 2005, 18:58 GMT
People with diabetes are always at risk for kidney damage, particularly when their blood pressure is high. European researchers have found that the addition of the drug spironolactone to standard blood pressure-lowering therapy for these patients helps lower both blood pressure and the amount of albumin protein in urine, a measure of kidney damage. Study finding are reported in the medical journal Diabetes Care. Spironalactone was added to the anti-hypertensive medical regimen of study patient who were already taking two types of anti-hypertensive drugs. During spironolactone treatment, urinary albumin levels fell by 33 percent, and their upper and lower blood pressure readings fell by 6 and 4 points. Reportedly, the treatment was well tolerated. Researchers say that further studies are indicated, but feel that, in the short term, spironolactone may offer beneficial kidney and cardiovascular protection. Summary of the study available here. Read Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments