Combination of Pentoxifylline with Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors Produces an Additional Reduction in Microalbuminuria in Hypertensive Type 2 Diabetic Patients

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the anti proteinuric effect of pentoxifylline in diabetic patients, we prospectively studied in 25 hypertensive type 2 diabetic patients with persistent microalbuminuria and normal renal function the impact of combining pentoxifylline with an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, lisinopril, on urinary albumin excretion and compared the results with those obtained in a control group of 25 type 2 diabetic patients treated with lisinopril only. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty hypertensive type 2 diabetic patients with persistent microalbuminuria (31 males and 19 females, aged between 47-73 years) were randomly assigned to two groups. Group A received lisinopril 10 mg/day, while group B was given lisinopril 10 mg/day and pentoxifylline 600 mg/day for nine months. There were no significant differences between serum creatinine, HbA1c, blood pressure and urinary albumin excretion in both groups (p > 0.05). RESULTS: Serum creatinine, creatinine clearance, blood pressure, HbA1c levels did not change significantly during the study. Urinary albumin excretion decreased from 228 +/- 28 to 148 +/- 15 mg/day in group A (p < 0.05). In group B urinary albumin excretion decreased from 219 +/- 26 to 128 +/- 12 mg/day (p < 0.05). Pentoxifylline and lisinopril combination caused a significant additional reduction in urinary albumin excretion when compared to lisinopril regimen (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the combination of pentoxifylline with an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor in hypertensive type 2 diabetic patients with persistent microalbuminuria causes a significant reduction in urinary albumin excretion and this effect seems independent from blood pressure and glycemic control.