Aldosterone antagonist refers to diuretic drugs which antagonize the action of aldosterone at mineralocorticoid receptors. This group of drugs is often used as adjunctive therapy, in combination with other drugs, for the management of chronic heart failure. Spironolactone, the first member of the class, is also used in the management of hyperaldosteronism (including Conn's syndrome) and female hirsutism.

Contents 1 Mode of action 2 Examples 3 See also 4 References 5 External links

[edit] Mode of action

Aldosterone antagonists are, as the name suggests, receptor antagonists at the mineralocorticoid receptor. Antagonism of these receptors inhibits sodium resorption in the collecting duct of the nephron in the kidneys. This interferes with sodium/potassium exchange, reducing urinary potassium excretion and weakly increasing water excretion (diuresis). ^[1]

In congestive heart failure, they are used in addition to other durgs for additive diuretic effect, which reduces edema and the cardiac workload.

[edit] Examples

Members of this class in clinical use include:

• Spironolactone
• Eplerenone
• Canrenone

[edit] See also

• Potassium-sparing diuretic
• ATC code C03#C03DA Aldosterone antagonists

[edit] References

1. ^ Rossi S, editor. Australian Medicines Handbook 2006. Adelaide: Australian Medicines Handbook; 2006.

[edit] External links

• MeSH Aldosterone+Antagonists
• MeSH list of agents 82000451

v • d • e Receptor antagonists: hormone antagonists Hypothalamic/pituitary axes Adrenal axis: Corticotropin releasing hormone antagonists - Aldosterone antagonists Thyroid axis: Antithyroid agents Gonadal axis: Androgen antagonists - Gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonists - Selective estrogen receptor modulator Eicosanoid Leukotriene antagonists - Prostaglandin antagonists Other Cholecystokinin antagonists

v • d • e Antihypertensives: diuretics (C03) Sulfonamides (except EA) CA inhibitors (at PT) Acetazolamide Loop (Na-K-Cl at AL) Furosemide# • Bumetanide • Torasemide • Etacrynic acid Thiazides (Na-Cl at DCT, Calcium-sparing) Hydrochlorothiazide# • Bendroflumethiazide • Hydroflumethiazide • Chlorothiazide • Polythiazide • Trichlormethiazide • Cyclopenthiazide • Methyclothiazide • Cyclothiazide • Mebutizide Thiazide-likes (primarily DCT) Quinethazone • Clopamide • Chlortalidone • Mefruside • Clofenamide • Metolazone • Meticrane • Xipamide • Indapamide • Clorexolone • Fenquizone Potassium-sparing (at CD) ESC blockers Amiloride# • Triamterene • Benzamil Aldosterone antagonists Spironolactone# • Eplerenone • Potassium canrenoate • Canrenone Osmotic diuretics (PT, DL) Mannitol# • Urea VAs (DCT and CD) vaptans: Conivaptan • Mozavaptan • Satavaptan • Tolvaptan tetracyclines: Demeclocycline Other mercurial diuretic (Mersalyl) • Theobromine • Cicletanine #WHO-EM. ‡Withdrawn from market. CLINICAL TRIALS: †Phase III. §Never to phase III