The effect of linagliptin on microalbuminuria in patients with diabetic nephropathy: a randomized, double blinded clinical trial

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of linagliptin on microalbuminuria in patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN). The present double-blind randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial was performed on 92 patients with DN who were divided into two groups. The intervention and control groups received linagliptin 5 mg and placebo for 24 weeks, respectively. Blood pressure, lipid profile, liver enzymes, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and urine albumin-creatinine ratio (UACR) were assessed and recorded before, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks after the beginning of the intervention. The mean value of UACR decrease was significant over time in both groups, with higher decrease in linagliptin group, however, the differences between two groups were not, statistically significant (P > 0.05). However, the percentage of improvement in microalbuminuria (UACR < 30 mg/g) in the linagliptin group was significantly higher than that of the control group during 24 weeks of intervention (68.3% vs. 25%; P-value < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in the mean value of the UACR and other parameters between linagliptin treated and placebo treated patients with diabetic nephropathy. Further studies, with longer periods of follow-up are suggested to examine these patients’ renal outcomes.