Preliminary findings suggest that patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) currently being treated with angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors benefit from a low dose of spironolactone as an effective and safe method of decreasing albuminuria, a first sign of diabetic kidney disease. These new findings will be presented at the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) Fifteenth Annual Meeting and Clinical Congress which will be held April 26 -  30, at the Hyatt Regency Chicago.

According to the National Kidney Foundation, kidney disease is one of the most serious complications of diabetes. Albuminuria in patients with DM2 confers a high risk of significant morbidity and mortality, including end-stage renal disease. While inhibition of aldosterone, a hormone released by the adrenal glands, has been previously demonstrated to decrease mortality in patients with heart failure, the data presented in this study support its emerging role in treating nephropathy of DM2.

This original research is being presented by Michael Benjamin Davidson, DO; Alan Wong, MD; Mariam Stevens, MD; Amir Hamrahian, MD, FACE and Elias S Siraj, MD, FACE.

This study took place at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio and was selected by the AACE to be featured as an oral presentation on Saturday, April 29, 2006. The AACE Fifteenth Annual Meeting and Clinical Congress will be held April 26 -  30, at the Hyatt Regency Chicago.

AACE is a professional medical organization with more than 5,300 members in the United States and 85 other countries. Founded in 1991, AACE is dedicated to the optimal care of patients with endocrine problems. AACE initiatives inform the public about endocrine disorders. AACE also conducts continuing education programs for clinical endocrinologists, physicians whose advanced, specialized training enables them to be experts in the care of endocrine disease, such as diabetes, thyroid disorders, growth hormone deficiency, osteoporosis, cholesterol disorders, hypertension and obesity.

http://www.aace.com