The efficacy of pioglitazone for renal protection in diabetic kidney disease

There is limited information on the efficacy of pioglitazone in diabetic kidney diseases (DKD). We evaluated whether pioglitazone exerts renal-protective effects in DKD patients. We designed a retrospective cohort study, which included 742 type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with DKD in Taiwan, with eGFR between 30 and 90 ml/min/1.73 m and UACR level 300–5000 mg/g. Patients not meeting the target range for HbA1c (above 7%) were given additional medication with pioglitazone (n = 111) or received standard care (non-pioglitazone group, n = 631). The primary endpoint was the occurrence of composite renal endpoints, which was defined as sustained eGFR<15 ml/min/1.73 m (confirmed by two measurements within 90 days); doubling of serum creatinine (compared to baseline); and the presence of hemodialysis or renal transplantation. The median follow-up duration was two years. At baseline, the mean HbA1C levels in the pioglitazone and non-pioglitazone groups were 8.8% and 8.1%, respectively; mean ages were 64.4 and 66.2 years old, respectively; diabetes durations were 14.3 and 12.3 years, respectively. Baseline eGFR showed no significant difference between the pioglitazone and non-pioglitazone groups (55.8 and 58.8 mL/min/1.73 m, respectively). In terms of gender, 63% of patients were male in the pioglitazone group compared with 57% in the non-pioglitazone group. Pioglitazone use did not reduce the risk of composite renal endpoints in DKD patients (HR: 0.97, 95% CI = 0.53–1.77), including persistent eGFR<15 ml/min/1.73 m (HR = 1.07, 95% CI = 0.46–2.52), doubling of serum creatinine (HR = 0.97, 95% CI = 0.53–1.77), or ESRD (HR = 2.58, 95% CI = 0.29–23.04). The results were not changed after various adjustments. A non-significant albuminuria reduction was also noted after pioglitazone prescription in DKD patients. Further randomized controlled studies are needed to establish the effects of pioglitazone definitively.