Renal actions of calcium channel antagonists.

The actions of L-channel calcium antagonists on the kidney are the result of direct and indirect effects. The direct effects are characterized by vasodilation, especially when the renal vascular resistance was enhanced beforehand. The increase in glomerular filtration rate is small and transient in most of the clinical trials with chronic administration. An important direct effect of calcium channel antagonists on renal function is the increase of sodium and water excretion by a tubular action that occurs in the absence of hemodynamic changes. The mechanism of the tubular effects of calcium channel antagonists is not understood at present. An indirect effect of calcium channel antagonists on the kidney is the inhibition of the aldosterone secretion by the adrenals. A sodium and water loss due to inhibition of tubular reabsorption leads to an increase in renin activity and aldosterone concentration in the plasma as seen typically with diuretics. The dissociation of renin- and aldosterone increase by calcium channel antagonists is a new finding and contributes favorably to the anti-hypertensive efficacy of calcium channel antagonists. In experimental acute renal failure mainly diltiazem and verapamil improved recovery of kidney function. In kidney transplantation, diltiazem reduced posttransplant acute tubular necrosis and improved primary graft function. It remains to be seen whether other calcium channel antagonists have a similar beneficial therapeutic effect in pathological states of renal function.