Does blockade of the renin-angiotensin system improve endothelial dysbalance in diabetic nephropathy?
This review highlights the role of endothelial dysfunction in diabetic nephropathy and the potential therapeutic benefit of renin-angiotensin system blockade in restoring endothelial balance.
In recent years endothelial function has been forwarded a modulator in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. This review summarizes how an imbalance between endothelium-derived reactive nitrogen species and reactive oxygen species as well as increased expression of the endothelium-derived peptide endothelin-1 may contribute to loss of renal function in diabetes. In addition, the potentially beneficial effects of blockade of the renin-angiotensin system on this endothelial dysbalance is discussed.
Rabelink et al. (Thu,) studied this question.