Hemmelder MH, de Zeeuw D, de Jong PE
Verapamil is not as effective as ACE inhibition in the reduction of non-diabetic proteinuria
Am Soc Nephrol
J Am Soc Nephrol (abstract) (Sep) 7:1334 1996

Different calcium channel blockers have different effects on proteinuria. In diabetic patients, verapamil but not nifedipine has antiproteinuric effects similar to those of ACE inhibitors. In a randomized double-blind cross-over trial, the efficacy of verapamil SR (360 mg), the ACE inhibitor trandolapril (4 mg) and a fixed combination of these drugs (180/2 mg) on proteinuria was studied in 11 non-diabetic patients with proteinuria > 3.0 g/d and creatinine clearance > 40 ml/min. Proteinuria was significantly reduced by all 3 treatments, but the reduction was significantly less with verapamil alone (-12%) vs. -51% and -41% with ACE inhibitor and combination therapy. However, verapamil also did not reduce diastolic BP. The authors conclude that verapamil is not as effective as ACE inhibitors in the reduction of proteinuria in non-diabetic patients.

Comment: The strong point of this study is its rigorous design. However, the low number of patients studied and the lack of comparable antihypertensive efficacy make interpretation of clinical significance difficult. (David J. Leehey, M.D., Loyola University at Chicago)

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Am Soc Nephrol
H: Pathophysiology : Kidney in hypertension
H: Drug therapy : Calcium channel blockers