title: Prostaglandin E1 for preventing the progression of diabetic kidney disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is one of the major chronic microvascular complications in diabetes mellitus, and may progress to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). There are no definitely effective approaches for preventing, delaying or treating DKD. Small studies have shown that Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) can improve renal blood circulation and decrease proteinuria and albuminuria.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the benefits and harms of PGE1 for preventing the progression of DKD.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, EMBASE, Chinese Biomedicine Database (CBM) and reference lists of articles with no language restriction.
  
  
  METHODS
  All randomised controlled trials (RCTs) or quasi-RCTs comparing any PGE1 agent used for preventing the progression of DKD, regardless of dosage, mode of administration, addition of cointerventions or duration of treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two authors independently assessed study quality and extracted data. For dichotomous outcomes (all-cause mortality, ESKD), results were expressed as relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Continuous outcomes (microalbuminuria, proteinuria, albuminuria, doubling of serum creatinine, serum creatinine) were expressed as mean difference (MD) with 95% CI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six studies (271 patients) were included. Five studies investigated PGE1 with or without fosinopril/losartan versus fosinopril/losartan or no treatment and one compared PGE1 versus Xueshuantong (a Chinese medicinal herb). There was a significant decrease in urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER) in patients treated with PGE1 (MD -48.28 microg/min, 95% CI -75.29 to -21.28), other outcomes also showed a significant decrease in the patients with PGE1 (albuminuria: MD -143.66 mg/24 h, 95% CI -221.48 to -65.84; proteinuria: MD -300 g/24 h, 95% CI -518.34 to -81.66). PGE1 had a positive effect on albuminuria (MD -660 mg/24 h, 95% CI -867.07 to -452.93) in clinical DKD (CDN, III stage of DN) compared with Xueshuantong. No data on incidence of ESKD, all-cause mortality or quality of life were available.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PGE1 may have positive effects on DKD by reducing UAER, decreasing albuminuria and lessening proteinuria, with no obvious serious adverse events. However, limited by the poor methodological quality of the included studies and the small number of participants, there is currently insufficient evidence for determining if PGE1 could be used for preventing the progression of DKD. Large, properly randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind studies are urgently needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 37 Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu, Sichuan, China, 610041.
authors.forename: Han
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jue Lin
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Jirong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yue
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yan Bin
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Hou
mesh_terms: D000419:Albuminuria / Q000188:drug therapy; D000527:Alprostadil / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018450:Disease Progression; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017328:Fosinopril / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D019808:Losartan / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000188:drug therapy; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D000527:Alprostadil; D019808:Losartan; D017328:Fosinopril