Journal of the American Society of Nephrology : JASN
-
J. Am. Soc. Nephrol. · Jun 2002
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical TrialOral sulodexide reduces albuminuria in microalbuminuric and macroalbuminuric type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients: the Di.N.A.S. randomized trial.
Diabetic nephropathy may be effectively prevented and treated by controlling glycemia and administering angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. However, strict metabolic control can be difficult, and ACE inhibitors may be poorly tolerated and only partially effective, particularly in diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2), warranting the search for ancillary treatment. Sulodexide is a glycosaminoglycan, a new class of drug that has demonstrated nephroprotective activity in experimental investigations. ⋯ Very few adverse events were reported; none were serious. In conclusion, a 4-mo course of high doses of sulodexide significantly and dose-dependently improves albuminuria in DM1 and DM2 patients and micro- or macroalbuminuric patients with or without concomitant ACE inhibition. The effect on albuminuria is long-lasting and seemingly additive to the ACE inhibitory effect.