Antihypertensive drugs in renal failure.

As a risk factor, arterial hypertension favors the progression of renal failure and promotes cardiovascular complications, leading to early death. Progressive renal failure can be delayed or halted in glomerular diseases, and damage to other end organs can be avoided, by effective measures to lower blood pressure. Calcium antagonists and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors appear to be especially suitable as antihypertensive medications, because they may have specific renoprotective properties. Diuretics are required when a volume expansion caused by retention of salt and water occurs in more severe restriction of the glomerular filtrate. After ruling out contraindications and with cautious individualized dosages of antihypertensives (especially ACE inhibitors), deterioration of kidney function resulting from therapy is very rare.