[Supportive medical management of patients with chronic renal failure]

Progressive renal failure occurs in a large number of patients even in the absence of the original cause of injury. It is suggested that the initial reduction in nephron number progressively damages the remaining ones. Various mechanisms underlie the pathogenesis of progressive glomerular injury. Several studies have extensively shown that both dietary protein restriction and pharmacologic intervention with ACE-inhibitiors and angiotensin receptor antagonists effectively slow the progression of chronic renal diseases. This article will present treatment recommendations designed to delay the progression of chronic renal disease, to optimize its medical management and to reduce complications induced by renal insufficiency including hypertension, renal osteodystrophy and anemia. Ten steps in the management of patients with chronic renal failure recommended by an international panel of experts based on existing guidelines are presented.