Beraprost Sodium Delays the Decline of Glomerular Filtration Rate in Patients with Diabetic Nephropathy: A Retrospective Study

INTRODUCTION: To investigate the reno-protective effect of beraprost sodium (BPS) in patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed patients with DN hospitalized in China-Japan Friendship Hospital from January 2015 to December 2021 who received combination of conventional treatment and BPS (120 ug/day) therapy. We selected patients with DN matched in age and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) as controls, who received only conventional therapy. Baseline information and clinical variables at each follow-up visit were collected from all patients. The changes of clinical variables were compared between the two groups before and after treatment. RESULTS: A total of 50 patients with DN met the inclusion and exclusion criteria, with 25 patients in each group. The baseline characteristics of the two groups have no significant difference (p > 0.05). Serum albumin levels after treatment were improved in both groups, but the improvement was statistically significant only in BPS group (35.5–39.8 g/l, p < 0.001). The eGFR worsened significantly in both groups (p = 0.009 and p = 0.001). However, the decline of eGFR was less in BPS group than that in control group (− 9.8 vs. − 16.7 ml/min/1.73 m(2), p = 0.037). In the subgroup analysis, 30 patients received 3–12 months treatment and 20 patients received more than 12 months treatment. During the 3–12 months treatment period, serum creatinine and eGFR in the control group were significantly worsened compared with those before treatment (p = 0.019 and p = 0.03), but in the BPS group they were relatively stable (p > 0.05). After more than 12 months treatment, although the serum creatinine and eGFR were significantly worsened in both groups (p < 0.05), the decline of eGFR was less in BPS group than that in control group (− 10.1 vs. − 25.9 ml/min/1.73 m(2), p = 0.045). CONCLUSIONS: Combination of conventional treatment and BPS therapy delays the decline of eGFR in patients with DN in the long term.