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L Weekers

Publications and source records attributed to L Weekers.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

[Prevention of diabetic nephropathy: from microalbuminuria to end-stage renal insufficiency].

Diabetic nephropathy is one of the leading causes of end-stage renal failure in western countries. This disease develops over several years. Early stages, if they are detected in time, can lead to preventive treatment at a moment when the disease is still reversible. This paper reviews the main primary and secondary preventive measures that have been proven efficacious. Those are essentially the optimal treatment of hyperglycaemia and hypertension, and probably the use of agents that specifically block the renin-angiotensin axis. We briefly discuss the results of the main studies that have led to those conclusions.

Diabetes Complications↗
PubMed2001

[Clinical study of the month. The CALM study assessing the combination of an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and an angiotensin II receptor antagonist in the treatment of diabetic nephropathy].

The main objective of the CALM (Candesartan And Lisinopril Microalbuminuria) study is to assess the effect of a dual blockade of the renin-angiotensin system--using both an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE-I) and an angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker--in patients with type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and microalbuminuria. The study included 200 patients randomized to receive candesartan 16 mg or lisinopril 20 mg for 12 weeks, followed by 12 weeks of the same monotherapy or a combination treatment. Main outcomes are the reduction of microalbuminuria and blood pressure. All three of the treatments are effective, but the dual blockade is respectively 18%, 8 mmHg and 5 mmHg more effective in reducing microalbuminuria, systolic and diastolic blood pressure. No comparison is made between this "new" association and the more frequently used biotherapy (i.e. ACE-I plus thiazidic diuretic) and therefore its usefulness in regular practice is still to be determined.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

[Clinical study of the month. Nephroprotective role of angiotensin II receptor antagonists in type 2 diabetes: results of the IDNT and RENAAL trials].

Nephropathy associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus is a rising cause of end-stage renal disease and is a major public health problem. If blocking of the renin angiotensin system has a well established nephroprotective effect in type 1 diabetic nephropathy, this remained to be shown for type 2 diabetes. Two large outcome trials using angiotensin II receptor antagonists (ARA's) in proteinuric chronic renal impairment and hypertensive type 2 diabetic patients have now closed this gap: the Irbesartan Diabetic Nephropathy Trial (IDNT) and the Reduction of Endpoints in NIDDM with Angiotensin II Antagonist Losartan (RENAAL) trial. Both trials showed a significant reduction in the primary pre-specified end-point of death, or worsening of renal function (doubling of serum creatinine) or the development of end-stage renal disease. This effect goes beyond the reduction in blood pressure and makes of ARA's one of the important tools in the treatment of type 2 diabetic nephropathy.

Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists↗
PubMed2000

[Guidelines for the treatment of arterial hypertension in diabetic patients].

Diabetes mellitus is frequently associated with arterial hypertension and the combination of the two entities markedly increases the cardiovascular risk and accelerates the progression of microangiopathy (more particularly nephropathy) in both type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients. Numerous international guidelines have been published during the last few years to help the practitioner in targeting ideal arterial blood pressure levels (lower in diabetic than in non-diabetic patients) and in selecting first-choice antihypertensive agents. We will concisely summarize the main messages of these recommendations and insist upon the persistence of uncertainties, or even the existence of inconsistencies, more particularly regarding preferential indications of antihypertensive agents in diabetic patients.

Antihypertensive Agents↗
PubMed2000

[Differences in glycemic balance (but not weight) correlate positively with changes in absolute cardiovascular risk in diabetic patients].

Coronary Risk Profile (CRP), assessed according to the Framingham equation takes the presence of diabetes into account, but not the glycaemic control or the body overweight. We have performed an observational survey to study the respective roles of changes in body weight or glycaemic control on calculated CRP, in a given subject, by an effect on several items of the CRP equation (systolic blood pressure, total and HDL cholesterol) which can be modified by blood glucose or weight. We have studied the CRP of 179 type 1 and 208 type 2 diabetes patients, admitted in the department of diabetology of the Angers Hospital, twice (interval < 3 years; 1.6 +/- 0.8 yr). The patients yielded no coronary heart disease, their age ranged from 30 to 74 yr (mean +/- SD: 53 +/- 13), they were not on antihypertensive or lipid lowering medication. Glycaemic control was assessed by glyco-haemoglobin (HbA1c), systolic blood pressure (SBP) was measured with an automatic device (Dinamap). Total and HDL cholesterol were determined by an enzymatic method, in fasting patients. Only age at first examination was taken into account to compute CRP. Initially, SBP was 131 +/- 17 mmHg, total and HDL cholesterol were 2.20 +/- 0.47 et 0.56 +/- 0.20 g/L, respectively. SBP was positively correlated with body weight (Rho = 0.310; p < 0.0001), but not with HbA1c. Median 5 yr CRP was 5% (range: < 1%-25%). Between both admissions, mean change in body weight, HbA1c and 5 yr CRP was +1.0 kg (range: -27 à +29), -0.2% (range: -4.5 à +7.6) et -0.01% (range: -10 à +13) respectively. Change in CRP between both admissions was associated with change in HbA1c (Rho = 0.109; p = 0.0315) but not in body weight (Rho = 0.072; p = 0.1588). This result was explained by the effect of the change in HbA1c on total cholesterol (Rho = 0.151; p = 0.003), (no effect on SBP or HDL cholesterol: Rho = 0.008 and Rho = 0.019; NS, respectively). These results suggest that, in diabetic patients, changes in glycaemic control affect their CRP by an effect on total cholesterol, but the changes in body weight do not affect their CRP.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

What do the needles, syringes, lancets and reagent strips of diabetic patients become in the absence of a common attitude? About 1070 questionnaires in diabetic clinics.

The aim was to investigate the fate of injection and monitoring material after its use by diabetic patients in different countries (France, Belgium, Luxemburg, Switzeland and Tunisia). Some suitable containers are available for disposal but little is known about the attitudes of patients and physicians to them. 1 070 questionnaires were completed by patients (age: 50 +/- 18 years; diabetes duration: 15 +/- 11 years; 2.8 +/- 1.1 injections per day) visiting 109 doctors. Injections were done at home (72.6%), or both at home and at work (26.6%). At home: needles, syringes, lancets and reagent strips were thrown directly into the bin in 46.9%, 49.9%, 52.2% and 67.6% of cases, respectively; and in a closed plastic bottle in 29. 6%, 28.5%, 28.9% and 19.9% of cases, respectively. Specific containers were used in 8.6% and 6.3% of cases for needles and syringes, respectively. 62% of the bottles and containers were thrown directly into the bin, whereas 15.5% were returned to a pharmacy (4.5% taken to hospitals, 2.9% were burned). At work: 63% of the patients brought their needles and syringes home for disposal, 6.9% kept suitable containers at work and 30% threw their materials directly into local bins. We conclude that awareness should be increased and the organization of the collection of used material improved.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[Arterial hypertension and type 2 diabetes].

Diabetes mellitus is frequently associated with arterial hypertension and the combination of both entities markedly increases the vascular risk. In type 2 diabetes, hypertension appears very early, especially in the presence of obesity, is part of the insulin resistance syndrome, and contributes to high cardiovascular morbidity and mortality rates in this population. Appropriate regulation of blood pressure is crucial in order to reduce not only microangiopathy (nephropathy and retinopathy) but also macroangiopathy (coronary heart disease and stroke) in hypertensive type 2 diabetic patients. Target blood pressure values have been decreased in recent years and should be < 130/85 mmHg, and may be even lower according to recent data. The optimal modalities of pharmacological treatment remain controversial, but obviously several medications are required to reach such objectives in most hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes.

Angiography↗
PubMed1998

[How I evaluate...diabetic nephropathy. First part: micro- and macroalbuminuria].

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) appears in about 30% of patients with type 1 diabetes (D1) and 15 to 60% of patients with type 2 diabetes (D2). It is preceded by microalbuminuria. Microalbuminuria is defined as an albumin excretion rate between 30 and 300 mg/24 h (on a 24-hour urine collection) or between 20 and 200 micrograms/min (on an overnight collection) in at least two out of three consecutive collections made within a 6-month period. Alternative screening techniques use either dipstick (Micral-Test II) or the albumin to creatinine ratio on an early morning urine sample (30-300 mg/g creatinine). Once persistent microalbuminuria is confirmed, 80% of type 1 diabetic patients and 20 to 50% of type 2 diabetic patients will progress to DN. In D2, microalbuminuria also represents a powerful predictor of early mortality from cardiovascular disease. Macroalbuminuria (AER > 300 mg/24 h, corresponding to a total protein excretion > 500 mg/24 h) will eventually lead to a end-stage renal insufficiency within 10 to 20 years. In D2, numerous patients will die from cardiovascular disease before reaching end-stage renal failure. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors can slow down the evolution toward DN when prescribed when microalbuminuria appears. Screening for microalbuminuria should therefore be a part of the annual clinical assessment in every diabetic patient.

Albuminuria↗
PubMed1998

[How I examine...diabetic nephropathy. Second part: assessment of glomerular filtration].

The natural history of diabetic renal disease can be divided into different stages according to the degree of albuminuria and the level of glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Assessment of the early hyperfiltration state, as well as determination of the rate of decline in kidney function at a later stage require precise and accurate methods to measure GFR. In this article, we briefly remind the reader of the physiological basis of GFR. We then review the different techniques for the monitoring of kidney function (inulin clearance, endogenous creatinine clearance, plasma disappearance of a radiolabelled tracer) and discuss the pro and cons of each of them in different clinical settings. Finally, we try to define a rational use of these techniques in everyday clinical practice.

Creatinine↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Diabetic nephropathy].

Diabetic nephropathy is a constantly increasing pathology in western countries. The trend is more pronounced in type 2 diabetic patients than in type 1 diabetic patients. Among individuals with type 2 diabetes, kidney disease is often multifactorial. This paper reviews recent developments in the pathophysiology, epidemiology and treatment of diabetic nephropathy.

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Hypertension and diabetes].

Hypertension frequently accompanies diabetes mellitus, as it is present in 50% of diabetic patients. Hypertension can sometimes preceed diabetes. In type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance plays a major role in the hypertensive risk. In type 1 diabetes, nephropathy is often noted as soon as hypertension is present. Both hypertension and diabetes increase the risk for cardiovascular and renal complications. For their prevention, first of all, modification of the diet with increasing exercise must be proposed, associated to antihypertensive agents with a blood pressure target lower than 130/80 mmHg. Renin-angiotensin blockers constitute the main drug therapy in such patients associated with diuretics or betablocker if angina pectoris is present or even calcium channel blocker when large arteries abnormalities exist. A frequent evaluation of the cardiovascular risk is required together with research of renal dysfunction or microproteinuria.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Arterial pulse pressure in relation to the duration of type 1 diabetes: a cross-sectional controlled study].

Diabetes mellitus and arterial pulse pressure (PP) are two independent cardiovascular risk factors. This cross-sectional study investigated the influence of diabetes duration on PP in type 1 diabetic patients without any cardiovascular disease. PP was measured continuously during 3 minutes (active orthostatic test: 1 min standing--1 min squatting--1 min standing) using a fingertip plethysmograph (Finapres) in 159 type 1 diabetic patients aged 20-60 yrs. They were divided into 4 groups according to diabetes duration: (1) G1 : <10 yrs (n=39); G2: 11-20 yrs (n=45); G3: 21-30 yrs (n=57); and G4: >30 yrs (n=18). In order to separate the effects of age from the effects of diabetes duration, diabetic patients were compared to age- and sex-matched non diabetic controls. PP (expressed in mmHg; mean +/- SD) was higher in men than in women in both diabetic (58 +/- 15 vs. 50 +/- 14; p = 0.001) and non diabetic subjects (55 +/- 14 vs. 47 +/- 12; p = 0.001). Overall PP was higher in diabetic than in non diabetic individuals (54 +/- 15 vs. 50 +/- 13; p = 0.025). PP progressively increased according to diabetes duration: 47 +/- 16 vs. 51 +/- 13 vs. 59 +/- 14 vs. 62 +/- 12, from G1 to G4 respectively; p < 0.0001. Such an increase was not observed in age-matched non diabetic subjects: 50 +/- 11 vs. 52 +/- 12 vs. 49 +/- 14 vs. 52 +/- 18, from G1 to G4, respectively; NS. PP was higher in squatting than in standing position in non diabetic subjects (52 +/- 16 vs. 47 +/- 13; p < 0.0001) and even more in diabetic patients (59 +/- 17 vs. 50 +/- 14; p < 0.0001). Overall, PP difference between diabetic and non diabetic individuals was not significant in standing position (50 +/- 14 vs. 47 +/- 13; NS) although it became highly significant in squatting position (59 +/- 17 vs. 52 +/- 16; p = 0.0005). The squatting-standing difference in PP markedly increased with diabetes duration: 69 +/- 14 during squatting vs. 50 +/- 18 during standing in G4 compared to respectively 50 +/- 17 vs. 44 +/- 15 in G1 diabetic patients. Finally, PP was similar (NS) in diabetic patients with HbA1c < 8% (54 +/- 14) or > or =8% (55 +/- 16), with (57 +/- 17) or without (54 +/- 14) microalbuminuria, treated (56 +/- 14) or not (54 +/- 15) by inhibitors of the renin-angiotensin system. In conclusion, PP progressively increased with the duration of type 1 diabetes, independently of age. Such increase was more marked in squatting than in standing position. The role of such PP rise in the increased cardiovascular risk of patients with type 1 diabetes, although suspected in the recent EURODIAB Prospective Complications Study, deserves further investigation.

Adult↗