Can lercanidipine improve renal function in patients with atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis undergoing renal artery intervention?

Objective: To investigate the renal-protective effect of lercanidipine in patients undergoing renal artery intervention. Methods: A prospective, single-center, cohort study was conducted and patients, 30–75 years of age, with atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis were consecutively enrolled between September 2011 and October 2012. Lercanidipine (10–20 mg/day) was regularly taken after the intervention. Follow up visits were performed at 3 and 6 months after the intervention. Serum creatinine, clinical blood pressure, 24 hour ambulatory blood pressure, pulse wave velocity, and 24 hour urine protein were assessed. Adverse events were recorded. Results: In total, 55 patients (mean age 63.5 ± 8.9 years) were enrolled and 52 completed the study. Renal function, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and 24 hour urine protein at 3 months after the intervention were not statistically different compared with the baseline. At 6 months after the intervention eGFR significantly increased versus baseline (78 ± 23 ml/min/1.73 m2 vs 71 ± 21 ml/min/1.73 m2, p = 0.021); 24 hour urine protein decreased significantly (0.02 g [IQR, 0.01–0.1] vs 0.03 g [IQR, 0.01–0.28], p = 0.042). Blood pressure control improved at 3 months and 6 months after the intervention. The need for antihypertensive drugs decreased; clinical systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and 24 hour average systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure decreased. The pulse wave velocity decreased after 3 and 6 months. At the end of follow-up, none of the following adverse events occurred: death, dialysis, myocardial infarction or stroke. Mild lower extremity edema occurred in only one patient. No other side effects occurred. Conclusions: This study showed that lercanidipine can improve renal function in patients undergoing renal artery intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]