Is Spironolactone Safe and Effective in the Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease in Mild Chronic Renal Failure?

Patients with kidney failure have a poor survival rate that is due to a much higher than average rate of heart and vascular disease. The reason that kidney failure causes heart disease is unknown but recent research suggests that a hormone called aldosterone, which is increased in patients with kidney disease may damage the heart and blood vessels. The investigators propose, using a randomized blinded trial, to find out whether drugs that inhibit the actions of aldosterone have beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system in patients with kidney failure