Aldosterone can cause cardiovascular injury in animals and men. The aldosterone blocker, spironolactone, has been shown to reduce mortality in patients with congestive heart failure. The use of this drug in arterial hypertension has been limited by the high frequency of adverse effects. Recently published data with a new aldosterone blocker, eplerenone, have confirmed the benefits of aldosterone blockade in patients post-myocardial infarction, as well as in the regression of left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertensive patients and of microalbuminuria in Type 2 diabetic patients. The fact that eplerenone is much better tolerated open the possibility of this therapy in cardiovascular, as well as in renal disease.
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