NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Proteinuria is undetected and untreated in many patients, according to a study presented April 23 at the National Kidney Foundation's 2014 Spring Clinical Meeting in Las Vegas.
The findings are from Dr. Vishesh Kumar, who reviewed the records of 298 patients admitted to Albany Medical College in Albany, New York, where he is a resident, and St. James Hospital in Chicago between January 1 and June 1, 2013. On routine urinalysis, 40% had proteinuria, but just 37% of them were being treated for it. A third of the patients had hypertension, but only 43% were taking an anti-proteinuric, antihypertensive drug."These findings are especially important because we have effective anti-proteinuria medications," observed Dr. Loay Salman, Director of Interventional Nephrology at the University of Miami's Miller School of Medicine.
"We can make a positive impact on disease progression if proteinuria is treated appropriately.""Once detected, patients should be started on one of the following anti-proteinuric agents: angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), spironolactone, diltiazem, or verapamil," Dr. Kumar said.
The findings are from Dr. Vishesh Kumar, who reviewed the records of 298 patients admitted to Albany Medical College in Albany, New York, where he is a resident, and St. James Hospital in Chicago between January 1 and June 1, 2013. On routine urinalysis, 40% had proteinuria, but just 37% of them were being treated for it. A third of the patients had hypertension, but only 43% were taking an anti-proteinuric, antihypertensive drug."These findings are especially important because we have effective anti-proteinuria medications," observed Dr. Loay Salman, Director of Interventional Nephrology at the University of Miami's Miller School of Medicine.
"We can make a positive impact on disease progression if proteinuria is treated appropriately.""Once detected, patients should be started on one of the following anti-proteinuric agents: angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), spironolactone, diltiazem, or verapamil," Dr. Kumar said.