Effects of carvedilol as third-line add-on therapy on blood pressure and glucose metabolism in type 2 diabetic patients with chronic renal disease stage 3 and above.

BACKGROUND We evaluated the effect of coadministration of β-blocker (carvedilol) as the third agent with angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB) and calcium channel blockers (CCB) on blood pressure (BP) regulation and glucose metabolism. METHODS Diabetic patients who did not achieve the therapeutic BP goal (140/90 mmHg) by ARB and CCB combination therapy were recruited. This study was designed to compare the BP regulating effects by adding carvedilol (10 mg/day, n=30) and by doubling the dose of either ARB (n=34) or CCB (n=31). Serum glucose metabolism was examined. RESULTS The carvedilol group showed a decrease (P<0.01) in BP from 166±11/90±8 to 156±9/84±7 mmHg at 12 weeks. In the ARB and CCB groups, BP also decreased (P<0.01) from 164±11/87±8 to 153±10/83±8 and 163±7/87±8 to 153±8/84±9 mmHg at 12 weeks. The rates of achieving therapeutic goal at 12 weeks were 36.7% in the carvedilol, 38.2% in the ARB and 41.9% in the CCB group. Serum glucose metabolism did not change in all groups. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that adding carvedilol decreased BP as safely as increasing the dose of ARB or CCB in patients with diabetic nephropathy.