Effect of Pioglitazone on proteinuria in non-diabetic renal patients: a self-control clinical trial

Proteinuria has independent deleterious effects on the progression of chronic renal disease. The objective of this study was to determine whether the addition of Pioglitazone, would reduce proteinuria in patients with nondiabetic renal disease already.This was a Self-controlled Clinical Trial study conducted in a Hospital and few private clinics of Nephrology. Forty four nondiabetic patients, aged 18 and over, who had renal disease and stable proteinuria over 0.5 g in 24 h and had body mass index (BMI) lower than 30, were enrolled in the study. patients received 15 mg of Pioglitazone for 4 months. The primary end point was urine protein excretion, which was measured prior to the study, at the end of 2 and 4 months during treatment and 2 months after cessation of the active drug. Secondary end points included systolic blood pressure, creatinine, urea, ALT, AST, FBS, BUN and GFR levels.Lower urine protein excretion 1088.6±775.6 mg/24h in prior to the study vs 433.9±406.2 mg/24h at the end of 4th month) P0. 01).The results of this study showed that Pioglitazone, can reduce proteinuria in patients with nondiabetic renal disease.