Glycosaminoglycans delay the progression of nephropathy in NIDDM.

Abstract

To determine the effect of oral administration of glycosaminoglycans on metabolic control and albumin excretion rate (AER) in NIDDM patients with increased urinary albumin excretion. Twelve NIDDM hypertensive patients (age 52 +/- 3 years, HbA1c 7.7 +/- 0.2%) on antihypertensive treatment were enrolled in a double-blind placebo-controlled study, assuming either placebo or sulodexide (100 mg/day) for 4 months; at the end of this period, a crossover was performed. We have evaluated routine biochemical parameters plus AER and coagulative function every 2 months. Both plasma fibrinogen (from 4.15 +/- 0.32 to 2.77 +/- 0.47 mmol/l) and AER (from 128.3 +/- 40.6 to 39.6 +/- 11.9 micrograms/min) decreased significantly after treatment with glycosaminoglycans in respect to placebo; moreover, blood pressure control ameliorated, also in the absence of any variation of therapy. Glycosaminoglycan therapy, likely in association with a satisfactory control of blood pressure values, seems to prevent the progression of diabetic nephropathy in NIDDM.