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Abstract

Management of hypertension in people with kidney disease is challenging and generally requires at least three different and complementary acting antihypertensive agents to achieve the recommended blood pressure goal by the JNC VI and WHO guidelines of <130/85 mmHg. This is also true for the recent blood pressure goal for diabetes of <130/80 mmHg recommended by both the National Kidney Foundation and American Diabetes Association for reduction of cardiovascular risk and preservation of kidney function. Commonly used combinations include an ACE inhibitor, which has compelling indications for use in people with kidney disease with a diuretic, generally a thiazide type agent. Angiotensin receptor blockers have clearly shown effectiveness for slowing nephropathy progression in Type 2 diabetes and clearly have a role as first-line agents in that disease. If additional therapy is required, either a beta blocker or calcium antagonist may be added to this antihypertensive 'cocktail'. Beta blockers are particularly effective in people with a high sympathetic drive, i.e. high pulse rates, to lower pressure and reduce cardiovascular risk. Moreover, in recent studies their benefits on kidney function both by reducing proteinuria and slowing decline of kidney function make them good agents to add in the appropriate clinical setting. Given recent data from an analysis of the NHANES III database showing only 11% of people being treated for hypertension with diabetic kidney disease have achieved the blood pressure goal of <130/85 mmHg, it's no wonder the incidence of people starting dialysis continues to climb. Physicians need to work harder and educate patients on the importance of achieving these lower blood pressure guidelines.