Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have higher blood pressures than the general
population. They also tend to have protein leaking into the urine (proteinuria). CKD, high
blood pressure and proteinuria independently and together increase the risk of developing
atherosclerosis (hardening) of the arteries that leads to diseases such as heart attack and
stroke. Although there are a number of drugs available that lower blood pressure, these are
not always fully effective. Furthermore, there are even fewer drugs that simultaneously lower
blood pressure, reduce proteinuria, and slow down kidney damage in CKD.
Recent research has shown that drugs like sitaxsentan not only lower blood pressure but also
reduce proteinuria and potentially slow down the progression of CKD [1,2]. Before sitaxsentan
can become freely available to individuals with CKD it is important to look at the effects
this drug could have on proteinuria and blood pressure.
1. Goddard J, Johnston NR, Hand MF, et al. Endothelin-A receptor antagonism reduces blood
pressure and increases renal blood flow in hypertensive patients with chronic renal
failure: a comparison of selective and combined endothelin receptor blockade.
Circulation 2004;109:1186-1193.
2. Krum H, Viskoper RJ, Lacourciere Y et al. The effect of an endothelin receptor
antagonist, bosentan, on blood pressure in patients with essential hypertension. New
Engl J Med 1998;338:784-790.