Ameliorating effects of conventional therapy on declining renal function in patients with diabetic nephropathy

The beneficial effects of conventional long treatment on declining renal function in diabetic nephropathy (non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, NIDDM) were evaluated retrospectively. One hundred NIDDM patients with overt proteinuria were followed for more than three years. Clinical data before and after various regimens of treatment were compared statistically. Treatment included a calcium antagonist (CaA), alpha-methyl dopa (AMD), an alpha-blocker (ABL), angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI), anti-platelet agents (APL), essential amino acids (EAA), and an oral absorbent (AST-120). Changes in renal function were analyzed by comparing the degree of slopes of regression rate of the reciprocals of serum creatinine levels (R1/Cr). Administration of ACEI and EAA resulted in R1/Cr improvement after the initiation of treatment (p less than 0.05). It appears that the administration of EAA and ACEI are beneficial with regard to protection against renal failure in NIDDM patients with diabetic nephropathy.