Which medication is often used to treat hypertension in patients with chronic kidney disease?

Enalapril is frequently used in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) to manage hypertension primarily due to its ability to provide renal protective effects. This angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor works by blocking the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II, leading to vasodilation and a reduction in blood pressure. Additionally, enalapril can help in reducing proteinuria, which is a common concern in CKD, thus protecting kidney function over time.

Furthermore, ACE inhibitors like enalapril are particularly advantageous in patients with CKD because they can decrease the intraglomerular pressure—a crucial benefit when managing the complications of chronic kidney dysfunction. Regular use of enalapril may contribute to slowing the progression of kidney disease associated with hypertension.

Other medications listed, while they may manage hypertension, do not provide the same level of renal protection or benefit specific to the renal function decline often observed in CKD. For instance, amlodipine and metoprolol are effective antihypertensives but lack the renal protective properties that ACE inhibitors provide. Losartan, although a useful medication, is an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) that serves a similar function but is less frequently highlighted