Treatment of Proteinuria with Lercanidipine Associated with Renin-Angiotensin Axis-Blocking Drugs

OBJECTIVE: Most calcium antagonists do not seem to reduce microalbuminuria or proteinuria. We have tried to assess the antiproteinuric effect of a calcium channel blocker, lercanidipine, in patients previously treated with ACE inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers. DESIGN AND METHODS: The study included 68 proteinuric (> 500 mg/day) patients (age 63.1 +/- 12.9 years, 69.1% males and 30.9 females). All patients were receiving ACE inhibitors (51.4%) or angiotensin II receptor blockers (48.6%) therapy but had higher blood pressure than recommended for proteinuric patients (<130/80 mmHg). Patients were clinically evaluated one, three, and six months after starting treatment with lercanidipine (20 mg/day). Samples for urine and blood examination were taken during the examination. When needed, a third drug was added to treatment. Creatinine clearance was measured using 24 h urine collection. RESULTS: BP significantly decreases from 152 +/- 15/86 +/- 11 mmHg to 135 +/- 12/77 +/- 10 mmHg at six months of follow-up (p < 0.001). After six months of treatment, the percentage of normalized patients (BP < 130/80 mmHg) was 42.5%, and the proportion of patients whose BP was below 140/90 mmHg was 58.8%. Plasmatic creatinine did not change nor did creatinine clearance. Plasmatic cholesterol also decreased from 210 +/- 48 to 192 +/- 34 mg/dL (p < 0.001), as did plasma triglycerides (from 151 +/- 77 to 134 +/- 72 mg/dL, p = 0.022). Basal proteinuria was 1.63 +/- 1.34 g/day; it was significantly (p < 0.001) reduced by 23% at the first month, 37% at three months, and 33% at the last visit. CONCLUSIONS: Lercanidipine at 20 mg dose, associated to renin-angiotensin axis-blocking drugs, showed a high antihypertensive and antiproteinuric effect. This antiproteinuric effect seems to be dose-dependent as compared with previous reports and proportionally higher than blood pressure reduction.