The losartan renal protection study--rationale, study design and baseline characteristics of RENAAL (Reduction of Endpoints in NIDDM with the Angiotensin II Antagonist Losartan).

What Was Tested

This randomized controlled trial looks at Losartan.

The RENAAL Study is a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the renal protective effects of losartan in Type 2 diabetic patients with nephropathy.

Why It Was Studied

Eligible hypertensive or normotensive patients are randomised to receive either losartan or placebo, in addition to their existing antihypertensive therapy.

Medications that block angiotensin production or action, are excluded.

Who Took Part

According to the abstract, 2 patients were involved.

The age groups tagged for this paper are middle-aged adults and older adults, both men and women.

How the Study Was Run

In design terms this was a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study.

Because people in this Losartan study were split into groups at random, differences between the groups are less likely to reflect who happened to join each one.

Blinding on both sides kept the patients and researchers unaware of who received Losartan.

Some patients received a placebo instead of Losartan, giving a reference point.

What Was Measured

The subject headings attached to it are Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Diabetic Nephropathies and Losartan.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study of Losartan in 2 patients.

With fewer than 40 people, it is a small study, so it is better read as an early signal for further research than as a settled answer.

The publication is from 2000 (Journal of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system : JRAAS), a journal based in England.

More context: all human trials.