Smoking reduces the effectiveness of drugs prescribed at an early stage of chronic kidney disease.

These are angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE inhibitors) inhibitors that promote vasodilation.

"At us it became a dogma: if the patient suffers chronic illness of kidneys and an arterial hypertensia, begin ACE. We, as practitioners, are satisfied with the situation when a simple drug slows the progression of CKD. But new nuances have opened up, "says Dr. Bethany Rem, a researcher from the Tufts Medical Center in Boston.

According to Dr. Rem, monitoring the condition of smokers with chronic kidney disease speaks of the need for a complete cessation of cigarettes when taking an ACEI. Currently, this factor is underestimated, although doctors usually recommend that smokers suffering from CKD and hypertension should say goodbye to a bad habit.

Dr. Rem's study included 108 smokers and 108 non-smoking patients with early CKD who took ACE inhibitors. Simultaneously, all smokers were enrolled in the smoking cessation program, 25 dropped out of it.

Patient follow-up lasted 5 years. The kidney function significantly decreased in smokers, both active and those who recently threw cigarettes through the program.

Non-smokers were ahead in all respects.

Judging by the results, the ACE inhibitors do not adequately protect this category of patients.

Probably, the reason is a high level of oxidative stress due to exposure to tobacco toxins.

The results of the work were presented at the American Society of Nephrology conference held in Chicago.

Dr. Rohm called for a re-examination of the data obtained by organizing more extensive studies.

medbe. en.