Benazepril and the kidney: new indication. No better than the other ACE inhibitors

(1) The action of benazepril on the progression of renal failure in non diabetic patients has been assessed in a comparative placebo-controlled trial involving nearly 600 patients, most of whom were hypertensive. (2) This trial showed a statistically significant slowing of renal failure on benazepril, but the possibility of bias casts doubts on this conclusion; moreover, excess deaths occurred in the benazepril group. (3) Currently, the slowing of the progression of renal failure is not a valid basis for choosing between angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors for non diabetic hypertensive patients with renal failure.