Effects of calcium channel blockers on renal function.

Calcium channel or entry blockers (CEBs) exert important vascular and tubular effects on the kidney. These renal effects include an enhancement of glomerular filtration rate (GFR), renal blood flow (RBF), and electrolyte excretion. Experimental studies in animals and humans indicate the potential therapeutic use of CEBs in several important clinical situations, for example attenuating the course of acute renal failure and slowing the progression of chronic renal failure. The latter effect appears to involve both the agent's antihypertensive effect and an additional cytoprotective effect. That CEBs help preserve renal function in renal transplantation has been shown in both animals and humans. In this setting, the effects of cyclosporine (CsA) and CEB on the immune system and on CsA hepatic metabolism are areas of importance for future research.