Authors: Rodriguez-Moran, Martha; Guerrero-Romero, Fernando

Source: Current Diabetes Reviews, Volume 4, Number 1, February 2008 , pp. 55-62(8)

Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers

Abstract:

The prevalence of diabetes and its complications is increasing worldwide. Among the microvascular complications, diabetic nephropathy is the most frequent cause of end-stage renal disease. Although angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors have been cited as the first line of therapy for the management of microalbuminuria, the rate of remission from microalbuminuria to normoalbuminuria has been lower than the expected. Furthermore, due to the elevated frequency of side effects of the rennin-angiotensin blockers new approaches for the treatment of microalbuminuria are needed. Pentoxifylline, a xanthine derivate drug with hemorheologic properties and primarily indicated for the therapy of disturbances of blood fluidity, is also an antagonist of adenosine 2 receptors and have antiinflammatory and immunomodulatory effects, properties that promote beneficial changes in the blood flow conditions and kidney function. Current evidence shows that the short-term use of pentoxifylline has low side-effects, reduces both proteinuria and microalbuminuria in subjects with diabetes, and is as effective as captopril in the reduction of microalbuminuria in non-hypertensive type 2 diabetic patients. Although this data suggests that pentoxifylline could be useful for preventing the development of end-stage renal disease is necessary to conduct long-term studies to evaluate the role of pentoxifylline in the treatment of diabetic nephropathy and the prevention of chronic renal failure. In this article, we review the clinical evidence that show the efficacy of pentoxifylline in the management of microalbuminuria in diabetic patients.

Keywords: Pentoxifylline; Diabetic nephropathy; Microalbuminuria; Proteinuria

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/157339908783502343

Publication date: 2008-02-01

More about this publication?

• Current Diabetes Reviews publishes frontier reviews on all the latest advances on diabetes and its related areas e.g. pharmacology, pathogenesis, complications, epidemiology, clinical care, and therapy.
  
  The journal's aim is to publish the highest quality review articles dedicated to clinical research in the field. The journal is essential reading for all researchers and clinicians who are involved in the field of diabetes.

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