Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 3, 2026

Single-channel Analysis and Calcium Imaging in the Podocytes of the Freshly Isolated Glomeruli
Published on: June 27, 2015
L-/N-type calcium channel blockers and proteinuria
1Department of Nephrology and Endocrinology, University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, 7-3- 1 Hongo, Bunkkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan. katsua-tky@umin.ac.jp.
Abstract:
The first-line depressor agents for hypertensive patients with chronic kidney disease are the renin-angiotensin system inhibitors because of their antiproteinuric and reno-protective effects. However, only one renin-angiotensin system inhibitor often cannot achieve target blood pressure in patients with injured kidney. Thus, second-line antihypertensives are required. Calcium channel blockers are frequently added on the renin-angiotensin system inhibitors in hypertensive patients with chronic kidney disease. However, they do not always show reno-protective effects because of their glomerular pressure-increasing action; Antihypetensive calcium channel blockers suppress L-type calcium channels, which exist in glomerular afferent but not efferent arterioles, and their afferent arteriole-specific vasodilation causes glomerular hypertension. The decrease in glomerular pressure due to their systemic hypotesive effect is counteracted by the glomerular pressure-incresing action. However, L-/N-type calcium channel blockers inhibits norepinephrine release from the sympathetic nerve terminal by blockade of N-type calcium channels, and dilate both afferent and efferent arterioles, which were innervated sympathetically, resulting in decrease in glomerular pressure. Actually, we have demonstrated that an L-/N-type calcium channel blocker cilnidipine decreased urinary protein more greatly than an L-type calcium channel blocker amlodipine in the renin-angiotensin system inhibitor-treated patients with chronic kidney disease. Thus, L-/N-type calcium channel blockers are one of suitable candidates for the second-line antihypertensives in the renin-angiotensin system inhibitor-treated hypertensive patients with proteinuria.
More Related Videos
09:43Analyses of Proteinuria, Renal Infiltration of Leukocytes, and Renal Deposition of Proteins in Lupus-prone MRL/lpr Mice
Published on: June 8, 2022
07:45Estimation of Urinary Nanocrystals in Humans using Calcium Fluorophore Labeling and Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis
Published on: February 9, 2021
Related Concept Videos
Antihypertensive Drugs: Action of Calcium Channel Blockers
Antihypertensive Drugs: Potassium-Sparing Diuretics
Antihypertensive Drugs: Thiazide-Class Diuretics
Antianginal Drugs: Calcium Channel Blockers and Ranolazine
CCBs, a diverse class that includes dihydropyridines (nifedipine) and diphenylalkylamines (verapamil and diltiazem), exert their effect by blocking calcium channels in cardiac and smooth muscle cells. This...
Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class I Agents as Sodium Channel Blockers
Class 1A Antiarrhythmic Drugs: These drugs work by moderately blocking sodium channels,...
Nephrotic Syndrome II : Assessment and Medical Management