Abstract

At present, there are no specific cures for most of the acquired chronic kidney diseases, and renal transplantation is limited by organ shortage, therefore present efforts are concentrated on the prevention of progression of renal diseases. There is robust experimental and clinical evidence that progression of chronic nephropathies is multifactorial; however, intraglomerular haemodynamic changes and proteinuria play a key role in this process. With a focus on renoprotection, we first examine more established therapies — such as those that modulate the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system — that can be used for the treatment of proteinuric renal diseases. We then discuss examples of novel drugs and biologics that might be used to target the inflammatory and profibrotic process, and glomerular injury, highlighting results from recent clinical trials.

Author affiliations

1. Department of Medicine and Transplantation, Ospedali Riuniti di Bergamo - Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research, Via Gavazzeni 11-24125, Bergamo, Italy.

Correspondence to: Giuseppe Remuzzi¹ Email: gremuzzi@marionegri.it

Published online 10 October 2008

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