Progression of chronic nephropathies can be significantly retarded by optimal control of blood pressure. To achieve target blood pressure combined treatment is usually necessary in patients with chronic nephropathies. Drugs interfere with the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin antagonists) have as compared with other antihypertensive agents with a comparable blood pressure control a more marked renoprotective effect and are renoprotective also in normotensive microalbuminuric patients with diabetic nephropathy and in proteinuric patients with non-diabetic nephropathies. Treatment with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin antagonists should be started as soon as possible and should be lifelong.

        Key words: Chronic nephropathy - Blood pressure control - Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors - Angiotensin antagonists - Diabetic nephropathy - Renoprotective effects