[Antioxidant therapy in vascular and renal diseases].

BACKGROUND: Reactive oxygen species are known to play an important role in the pathogenesis of several diseases including atherosclerosis. CARDIOVASCULAR EFFECT: Epidemiologic studies suggested a protective effect of antioxidative vitamins on atherosclerotic vascular diseases. However, prospective randomized studies failed to detect any beneficial effect of antioxidative vitamins, including tocopherol, on cardiovascular mortality. RENAL EFFECT: On the other hand, antioxidative therapies have been shown to prevent acute decreases of renal function induced by ischemia, contrast media or drugs. It is unknown whether antioxidative therapy also has beneficial effects in patients with chronic renal failure.