How Glomerulosclerosis Medications Work

Glomerulosclerosis is a kidney disease characterized by scarring of the glomeruli, leading to impaired renal function. The primary goal of treatment is to slow or halt disease progression and manage symptoms.

Gold Standard: Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors (ACE inhibitors)

ACE inhibitors are considered the gold standard for treating glomerulosclerosis due to their ability to:

• Reduce proteinuria by decreasing intraglomerular pressure
• Lower blood pressure, which helps reduce kidney damage
• Inhibit the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), a key pathway involved in kidney disease progression

Alternatives and Combinations

Other medications may be used as alternatives or in combination with ACE inhibitors, including:

• Calcineurin inhibitors: These can help reduce proteinuria but have potential nephrotoxic effects
• Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors: These may be used in patients with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS)
• Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors: These can help reduce proteinuria and have potential renoprotective effects