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Updated: Oct 14, 2025
Assessment of Vascular Function in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease
Published on: June 16, 2014
Calcium channel blocker in patients with chronic kidney disease
Shoko Ohno1, Akira Ishii1, Motoko Yanagita1,2
1Department of Nephrology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 54 Shogoin Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan.
Insights
Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) are vital for managing hypertension in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Proper selection of CCBs based on their effects improves patient outcomes and kidney function.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Cardiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a progressive global health issue.
- Hypertension and CKD have a significant interaction, necessitating strict blood pressure control.
- Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) are crucial in managing hypertension for CKD patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role and application of CCBs in patients with CKD.
- To highlight the importance of tailored CCB selection based on patient pathophysiology.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on CCBs and CKD.
- Analysis of pharmacological effects of different CCB subtypes.
- Examination of CCB use in combination therapy.
Main Results:
- CCBs are effective in lowering blood pressure in CKD patients.
- Different CCB subtypes (L-type, L-/T-type, L-/N-type) offer varied effects.
- CCBs have shown potential organ protection effects in CKD.
Conclusions:
- Appropriate selection of CCBs is essential for CKD management.
- Pharmacological properties, antihypertensive strength, and organ protection should guide CCB choice.
- Understanding CCB subtypes and their effects is key to optimizing CKD patient care.
Background:
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is involved in a progressive deterioration in renal function over the years and is now a global public health problem. Currently, reducing the number of patients progressing to end-stage renal failure is urgently necessary. Hypertension and CKD interact with each other, and good control of blood pressure (BP) can improve CKD patients' prognosis. With the current global trend for more strict BP control, the importance of BP management and the need for medication to achieve this strict goal are increasing. Calcium channel blockers (CCBs), which target voltage-dependent calcium channels, are frequently used in combination with renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors for CKD patients because of their strong BP-lowering properties and relatively few adverse side effects. Calcium channels have several subtypes, including L, N, T, P/Q, and R, and three types of CCBs, L-type CCBs, L-/T-type CCBs, and L-/N-type CCBs, that are available. Nowadays, the new functions and effects of the CCBs are being elucidated.
Conclusion:
We should use different types of CCBs properly depending on their pharmacological effects, such as the strength of antihypertensive effects and the organ protection effects, taking into account the pathophysiology of the patients. In this article, the role and the use of CCBs in CKD patients are reviewed.
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