• The rate of decline of glomerular filtration rate (GFR).GFR is measured at baseline,and at 6,12,18,24,30 and 36 months after randomization
  

• Major cardiovascular events
  

INTRODUCTION Optimal blood pressure, glycemic and lipid control are of utmost importance to minimize the incidence and the progression of chronic renal and cardiovascular complications in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2. Whether angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors alone or combined to calcium channel blockers (CCB) may further reduce the incidence and progression of chronic complications is worth investigating.

AIMS The primary aim of this study is to assess whether at comparable levels of optimal blood pressure and metabolic control, the ACE inhibitor delapril alone or in combination with the dihydropyridine CCB manidipine slow the rate of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) decline as compared with placebo plus conventional antihypertensive therapy in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 and hypertension. The secondary aim of this study is to assess the effects of delapril and manidipine on the incidence of major cardiovascular events (acute myocardial infarction, ictus or stroke, heart failure requiring hospitalization, revascularization, amputation and cardiovascular mortality). STUDY POPULATION 342 hypertensive type 2 diabetes patients with normo- or micro-albuminuria. STUDY DESIGN This is a multicenter, prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. After a 12-week baseline period in which prohibited antihypertensive treatments (ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor antagonists or dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers) will be discontinued, patients will be stratified according to their urinary albumin excretion rate in normo- and micro-albuminuric and then randomized to delapril alone (30 mg/day), delapril (30 mg/day) combined with manidipine (10 mg/day) or placebo given once daily in the morning for at least three years. During the study, systolic and diastolic blood pressure in all treatments groups will be maintained

• 120 and 80 mmHg respectively, with fixed doses of study treatments and flexible doses of permitted antihypertensive therapy (diuretics, beta blockers, alfa blockers, centrally acting adrenergic blockers. Blood pressure, blood glucose concentrations and urinary albumin excretion rate will be monitored every three months.

Serum lipid concentrations and GFR (estimated with the iohexol plasma clearance) will be measured every six months. Primary and Secondary Variables. The primary efficacy variable of this study is the rate of GFR decline. The secondary efficacy variable will be the incidence of major cardiovascular events (acute myocardial infarction, ictus or stroke, heart failure requiring hospitalization, revascularization, amputation and cardiovascular mortality).