Kidney Research and Clinical Practice (Sep 2012)

Use of low-dose sulodexide in IgA nephropathy patients on renin–angiotensin system blockades

  • Byeong Yun Yang,
  • Hee Seon Lee,
  • Sang Heon Song,
  • Ihm Soo Kwak,
  • Soo Bong Lee,
  • Dong Won Lee,
  • Eun Young Seong

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.krcp.2012.06.006
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 31, no. 3
pp. 163 – 169

Abstract

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Background: Despite using renin–angiotensin system (RAS) blockades, some of the patients with immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy often had persistent proteinuria of more than 500 mg/d. They need to be managed further by alternative methods to halt the progression of the disease; these methods could also be applied safely over a long period of time. In this context, sulodexide has been studied for the management of diabetic nephropathy. Methods: A retrospective review was carried out involving 20 patients with IgA nephropathy who had been taking sulodexide (50 mg daily) as an add-on therapy together with an optimal dose of RAS blockades during 2008–2009. We evaluated the proteinuria reduction rates and renal function changes. Results: During 11.1±72.7 months of follow-up duration, urinary protein-to-creatinine ratio (UPCR) decreased for 1.57±0.6 to 1.17±0.7 g/g (P=0.032). Twenty-five percent of the patients showed a greater than 50% reduction of UPCR, and 40% had a UPCR of less than 1.0 g/g at their final observations. The analysis of the factors contributing to the effect found that a higher pretreatment UPCR showed a significant correlation with the UPCR decrease (r=0.45, P=0.047). Neither the adverse effects nor the renal function impairments were documented during the management. Conclusion: Low-dose sulodexide has an additional modest antiproteinuric effect on IgA nephropathy undergoing RAS blockade therapy.

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