Effects of verapamil added-on trandolapril therapy in hypertensive type 2 diabetes patients with microalbuminuria: the BENEDICT-B randomized trial

OBJECTIVES: To address whether nondihydropyridine calcium-channel blocker added-on angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor therapy ameliorates albuminuria and cardiovascular outcomes in type 2 diabetes patients. DESIGN: The Bergamo Nephrologic Diabetes Complications Trial-B was a multicentre, prospective, double-blind, parallel-group trial comparing renal and cardiovascular outcomes in 281 hypertensive type 2 diabetes patients with microalbuminuria randomized to at least 2-year VeraTran (verapamil/trandolapril 180 mg/2 mg daily) or trandolapril (2 mg daily, identical image) treatment. Main outcome was persistent macroalbuminuria (albuminuria >200 µg/min in two consecutive visits). Treatment targets were SBP/DBP less than 120/80 mmHg and HbA1C less than 7%. RESULTS: Over a median follow-up of 4.5 years, 18 patients (13%) on VeraTran vs. 15 (10.5%) on trandolapril [unadjusted hazard ratio (95% confidence interval [CI]) 1.07 (0.54-2.12), P = 0.852] progressed to macroalbuminuria, respectively; 62 (44.9%) vs. 71 (49.7%) [0.80 (0.57-1.12), P = 0.198] regressed to normoalbuminuria (urinary albumin excretion <20 µg/min), and 20 (14.5%) vs. 21 (14.7%) [hazard ratio 0.93 (0.50-1.72), P = 0.816] had major cardiovascular events. BP and metabolic control were similar between groups. Patients with cardiovascular events were significantly less [13 (9.8%) vs. 28 (18.9%), hazard ratio: 0.37 (0.19-0.71), P = 0.003] among those regressing to normoalbuminuria than those without regression. Difference was independent of treatment allocation and was significant also after adjusting for baseline characteristics [0.40 (0.20-0.79), P = 0.009], follow-up SBP [0.40 (0.20-0.80), P = 0.010] or DBP [0.36 (0.18-0.73), P = 0.004] BP or HbA1C [0.43 (0.21-0.88), P = 0.021]. CONCLUSION: In hypertensive type 2 diabetes patients with microalbuminuria, verapamil added-on trandolapril did not improve renal or cardiovascular outcomes. Independent of verapamil, trandolapril normalized albuminuria in half of patients and this translated into significant cardioprotection.