Recent advancements in Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System Inhibitor (RAASi) therapy have shown promising effects on various disease groups, particularly in chronic kidney disease and heart failure. These findings highlight the importance of RAASis in managing these conditions, as studies demonstrate their potential to slow disease progression and improve survival rates, especially in diabetic kidney disease.
In an interview with HCPLive, Kam Kalantar-Zadeh, MD, MPH, PhD, chief of the Division of Nephrology, Hypertension, and Transplantation at the University of California Irvine Medical Center, discussed his session at the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) 2024 Spring Clinical Meeting. The session focused on dietary challenges, potassium control, and potential solutions related to RAASi therapy. The goal was to offer valuable insights to healthcare providers across disciplines and promote knowledge exchange to enhance patient care and outcomes.
Kalantar-Zadeh emphasizes that RAASis play a significant role in managing chronic kidney disease in diabetic patients. Despite challenges like hyperkalemia or high levels of potassium in the bloodstream, he stresses that abandoning RAASi therapy is not an option but rather an opportunity for collaboration across disciplines to explore solutions like dietary modifications and potassium-binding therapies.
Studies like FIDELIO have shown promising outcomes in managing diabetic kidney disease with RAASi therapy. However, there is still a risk associated with hyperkalemia or high levels of potassium in the bloodstream. Effective potassium control strategies using specialized binders have been shown to mitigate this risk. Further research is needed to optimize RAASi dosing and explore the use of potassium-binding therapy to maximize the dose while allowing patients to maintain their quality of life with fewer dietary restrictions.
Kalantar-Zadeh also highlights the need for more studies to address these challenges and improve the tolerability and effectiveness of RAASi therapy in patients with chronic kidney disease.
Overall, recent advancements in RAASi therapy hold great promise for improving patient outcomes in various diseases such as chronic kidney disease and heart failure. As research continues to evolve our understanding of this important therapeutic approach’s benefits and limitations will continue to emerge.
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Recent advancements
