Novel anti-inflammatory drugs for the treatment of diabetic kidney disease

Over the last decade, numerous studies have demonstrated that inflammation is involved in the cascade of events that lead to renal complications in patients with diabetic kidney disease [1]. Experimental studies highlighted the pathogenic role of inflammatory processes at the cellular and molecular levels. Observational studies have translated these findings to the human situation and have consistently shown that diabetic patients with higher levels of inflammatory markers in their blood or urine are at higher risk of renal function decline. These studies raise the possibility that anti-inflammatory interventions may slow the progression of diabetic kidney disease.