Abstract
Over the last decade a wealth of studies have shed new light on the role of aldosterone in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. It is now evident that in addition to its classical role in increasing sodium re-absorbtion in the kidney , aldosterone also exhibits several nonepithelial effects such as the induction of inflammation, fibrosis and necrosis in various organs. Herein we review the experimental evidences for the protective effects of mineralocorticoid receptor blockade in the prevention and treatment of target organ damage, both in animals and in humans. We also discuss the pharmacological and clinical differences between the two available mineralocorticoid receptor blockers, spironolactone and eplerenone.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Review
MeSH terms
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Aldosterone / pharmacology
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Aldosterone / physiology
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Animals
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Brain / drug effects
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Brain / physiopathology
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Brain Diseases / drug therapy
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Brain Diseases / prevention & control*
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Cardiovascular Diseases / drug therapy
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Cardiovascular Diseases / prevention & control*
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Eplerenone
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Heart / drug effects
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Heart / physiopathology
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Humans
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Hypertension / drug therapy
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Hypertension / prevention & control
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Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists* / pharmacology*
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Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists* / therapeutic use
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Spironolactone / analogs & derivatives
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Spironolactone / pharmacology
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Spironolactone / therapeutic use
Substances
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Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists
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Spironolactone
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Aldosterone
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Eplerenone