Angiotensin receptor blocker telmisartan improves insulin sensitivity in peritoneal dialysis patients.

Background: Insulin resistance (IR) is common among patients on dialysis and is worse among patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD) than among patients on hemodialysis. In this study we tested the hypothesis that administration of telmisartan, an angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonist, might improve insulin sensitivity in patients on PD.

Method: This was a crossover study of 30 nondiabetic patients with end-stage renal disease being treated with PD.