[Diabetic nephropathy and ACE inhibitors].

The life expectancy of patients with type 2 diabetes and diabetic nephropathy is reduced; the main cause of death is cardiovascular disease. The majority of patients with renal replacement therapy are type 2 diabetics. Inhibition of the renin-aldosterone-angiotensin system is beneficial in diabetes mellitus. It reduces the incidence and slows the progression of nephropathy. ACE inhibitors are the accepted standard of care for nephropathy in type-1 diabetics; the role of ACE inhibitors versus angiotensin-receptor-blockers in type 2 diabetes is less clear. Large studies from the last 15 years and meta-analyses show a reduction of mortality of about 20% with ACE inhibitors in type 2 diabetic nephropathy; angiotensin-receptor-blockers have no documented effect on mortality yet, but do also slow the progression of nephropathy in type 2 diabetics. From these data and because of economic considerations, ACE inhibitors should be first choice therapy for diabetic nephropathy in type 2 diabetes mellitus.