In developed countries, diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the main causes of end stage renal disease (ESRD). In addition, the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD) further increases the already significantly increased cardiovascular (CV) risk in patients with diabetes. Both albuminuria and impaired renal function predict CV disease-related morbidity. The multifactorial pathogenesis of DM-related CKD involves structural, physiological, hemodynamic, and inflammatory processes. Instead of a so-called glucocentric approach, current evidence suggests that a multimodal, interdisciplinary treatment approach is needed to also prevent further progression of CKD and reduce the risk of cardiovascular events. Combined antihypertensive, antihyperglycemic and hypolipidemic therapy is the basis of a comprehensive approach to prevent the progression of diabetic kidney disease. According to recent evidence, adjunctive therapy with the non-steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA) finerenone - in addition to the use of an ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) or AT1 (angiotensin II receptor subtype 1) blocker and an SGLT2 (sodium-glucose cotransporter-2) inhibitor - represents an effective therapeutic tool to improve nephroprotection in CKD. The aim of this review is to provide brief information on this promising pharmacotherapeutic approach to the treatment of diabetic kidney disease.
Keywords: chronic kidney disease (CKD); diabetes mellitus (DM); finerenone; hyperuricemia; mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists; spironolactone.