Metformin shows promise for treating polycystic kidney disease
Metformin is a safe treatment option for patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), according to new findings presented at the National Kidney Foundation’s 2021 Spring Clinical Meetings.
The analysis included 97 adult patients who were enrolled from June to December 2018. After two years, the rate of serious adverse events was similar between patients given metformin and patients given a placebo. The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health.
“ADPKD is the most common hereditary kidney disease and the fourth leading cause of end-stage kidney disease,” lead author Ronald D. Perrone, MD, of Tufts Medical Center and Tufts University School of Medicine, said in a statement. “Demonstration of the safety and tolerability of metformin in participants with PKD and GFR >50 ml/min is the initial step in further development of this potential treatment for PKD.”
“This is a very exciting development for people with ADPKD and we look forward to results from larger clinical trials evaluating efficacy and safety,” added Kerry Willis, PhD, chief scientific officer of the National Kidney Foundation.
Perrone et al. did note that additional research is still needed in this area.
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