Objective: To investigate the curative effects and side effects of hirudin in treating immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) with hematuria and minimal proteinuria in a short-term.
Methods: Two hundred and sixty-two histologically confirmed cases of IgAN with hematuria and minimal proteinuria from 1998 to 2007 were randomly divided into hirudin-treated group (peroral administration of Maixuekang capsules) and dipyridamole-treated group (peroral administration of dipyridamole). In the two groups, contrast analysis of conformation and counts of erythrocytes in urine, urine protein quantitation in 24 hours, levels of serum creatinine (Scr) and creatinine clearance rate (Ccr), blood lipid, five items of blood clotting and side effects was performed.
Results: After six-month treatment, the anisotrophy rate and the counts of erythrocytes in urine, and the urine protein quantitation in 24 hours in hirudin-treated group were decreased distinctly as compared with pre-treatment (P<0.01) and dipyridamole-treated group (P<0.05). On the other hand, Ccr was increased obviously in hirudin-treated group as compared with pre-treatment and dipyridamole-treated group (P<0.01). The blood lipid was also ameliorated in hirudin-treated group, but there was no significant difference. The anticoagulation effect of hirudin was better than dipyridamole (P<0.01). Efficacy assessment showed that the total response rate, complete remission rate and predominance remission rate in hirudin-treated group were higher than those in dipyridamole-treated group. Few side effects were found in both groups, and the rate of adverse reaction in gastrointestinal tract was lower in hirudin-treated group as compared with that in dipyridamole-treated group (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Compared with dipyridamole, hirudin has superiority in kidney protection and decreasing the anisotrophy rate, counts of erythrocytes in urine and the urine protein.