Does Blockade of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System Slow Progression of All Forms of Kidney Disease?

The velocity of chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression is only partly dependent on the nature and activity of the underlying disease process. Activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) is a crucial, and often universal, event responsible for the pathophysiologic mechanisms that accelerate CKD progression. Thus, it would appear that interruption of the RAAS through the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, or direct renin inhibitors can play a principal role in slowing CKD progression, regardless of the cause. Unfortunately, applying this generalized approach to all forms of CKD has been delayed by the lack of strong, evidence-based data. The aim of this review is to provide the most current evidence available for the use of RAAS blockade as a method of slowing the progression of the various forms of CKD.