For most patients with kidney disease, two drugs are the most important.
The causes and complications of chronic kidney disease (CKD) are varied, so are the drugs used to treat kidney disease. Patients with mild disease need to inhibit inflammation, reduce proteinuria, hematuria, and patients with more protein in urine also need to reduce lipid, prevent coagulation and thrombosis. Patients with renal failure need to reduce blood pressure, correct anemia and acidosis, improve heart failure, and decrease phosphorus and potassium, etc..
1. Glucocorticoids
Glucocorticoid drugs were introduced in 1948 and used in kidney disease treatment in the 1950s. They have contributed to chronic kidney disease for more than half a century. Its anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects can reduce the urinary protein of most patients with primary nephropathy, purpura, lupus and other nephropathy.
Steroids are often combined with other drugs. For kidney disease with poor effect of steroid alone, such as membranous nephropathy, it needs combined immunosuppressive agents to be effective. For example, when there is glomerular proliferation or sclerosis, combined traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can be used to improve the efficacy and reduce side effects.
2. Anti-hypertensive drugs
60% of patients with chronic kidney disease are accompanied by hypertension. Hypertension can cause acute and chronic progress of kidney disease, and is closely related to the morbidity and mortality of cardiovascular disease in kidney patients.
ACEI or ARBs have become the first-line antihypertensive drugs with their good effects and safety since they were introduced in the 1980s and 1990s. Because of its role in alleviating immune inflammation and reducing glomerular pressure, it has become the first choice of antihypertensive drugs for patients with chronic kidney disease, which can reduce blood pressure and urinary protein. If only one antihypertensive drug is not effective enough to lower blood pressure, the combination of CCBs and diuretics can be considered.
The role of these two drugs is very important. They are the cornerstone of nephropathy treatment and should not be stopped suddenly.
Glucocorticoids often need to be used for 1-1.5 years. The side effects will disappear when you stop the medicine. But steroids should be reduced slowly. Reducing too fast or withdrawal suddenly can trigger the relapse of proteinuria. Antihypertensive drugs have less side effects and need to be taken for a long time. Some patients need to take them for life.
Have you taken the above two medicines for kidney disease? For more information on kidney disease treatment, please leave a message below or contact online doctor.
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