Pentoxifylline reduces proteinuria in insulin-dependent and non insulin-dependent diabetic patients.

Pentoxifylline is a drug with hemorheological actions used in the management of microcirculatory abnormalities, such as those usually seen in diabetic patients. The drug has been successfully used in improving peripheral and central circulation, as well as proteinuria of long-term diabetes. With the hypothesis that pentoxifylline reduces proteinuria in patients with IDDM and NIDDM, with a wide range of urinary protein excretion, 86 diabetic patients were studied. Forty-one patients with IDDM were stratified in 2 subgroups: one of 18 patients with microalbuminuria, and the other of 23 patients with overt proteinuria. In the same way, 45 patients with NIDDM were divided in 2 subgroups: one of 23 patients with microalbuminuria, and the other of 22 patients with proteinuria. Patients in each subgroup were randomized to receive either placebo or pentoxifylline 1,200 mg/d, during 4 months, using a double blind design. At the beginning of the study and after treatment, 24-hour urinary albumin excretion was measured by nephelometry in each patient.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)