Renoprotective Effect of Calcium Channel Blockers in Combination with an Angiotensin Receptor Blocker in Elderly Patients with Hypertension. A Randomized Crossover Trial Between Benidipine and Amlodipine

Anti-hypertensive medication with an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) is effective in slowing the progression of chronic kidney disease. The present study was designed to investigate whether calcium channel blockers (CCBs) in combination with an ARB differentially affect kidney function. Elderly hypertensive patients with chronic kidney disease (n = 17, 72 ± 6 years old) were instructed to self-measure blood pressure. They were randomly assigned to receive either benidipine (4–8 mg/day) or amlodipine (5–10 mg/day) combined with olmesartan (10 mg/day). After 3 months, CCBs were switched in each patient and the same protocol was applied for another 3 months. At baseline, significant correlation was obtained between urine albumin (22.8 ± 16.7 (median ± median absolute deviation) mg/g creatinine) and self-measured blood pressure (170 ± 23/87 ± 10 (mean ± SD) mmHg, r = 0.65, p < 0.01). Both regimens reduced blood pressure to a similar extent (139 ± 22/75 ± 11 mmHg and 133 ± 17/72 ± 10 mmHg, respectively; ...