A class of drugs called ACE inhibitors prevents kidney failure and death better than other drugs used to treat high blood pressure in African-Americans, according to kidney specialist Stephen Rostand, M.D., co-author of a report in this week's Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
"African-Americans with high blood pressure and a risk of kidney failure should be treated first with angiotension-converting (ACE) inhibitors rather than calcium channel blockers. The latter may also be included in the treatment regimen if ACE inhibitors alone do not adequately control the high blood pressure."
African-Americans make up 13.9 percent of the U.S. population, but comprise almost 30 percent of people treated for kidney failure.
Contact Hank Black, Media Relations, 205-934-8938 or [email protected].
RSS