Therapeutic controversies in hypertension management: angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers for diabetic nephropathy? A case for ACE inhibitors.

Diabetic nephropathy is the number one cause of endstage renal disease in the United States. Blockade of the renin angiotensin system (RAS) is important in the treatment of diabetic nephropathy. With the reports of recently completed trials examining the role of angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) in type 2 diabetic nephropathy, the question has arisen as to which agents are best to block the RAS in type 2 diabetes. ACE inhibitors have been to preserve renal function in type 1 diabetics with nephropathy in large, randomized, placebo controlled trials, but such data is lacking in type 2 diabetes. Neverthelesss, ACE inhibitors have been recommended for use in type 2 diabetic nephropathy for some time. In type 2 diabetics, ACE inhibitors may have a role in preventing development of nephropathy, and, importantly, ACE inhibitors have been shown to reduce cardiovascular disease in diabetics with and without nephropathy. In addition, ACE inhibitors have beneficial effects on other diabetic complications such as retinopathy and neuropathy. Until better comparative data between ACE inhibitors and ARBs on nephropathy and cardiovascular outcomes is available, ACE inhibitors should remain an important consideration for treatment of diabetic nephropathy.