Renoprotection by Pentoxifylline and Angiotensin Receptor Blocker in Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

This is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial to investigate the renoprotective efficacy of combined pentoxifylline (PTX) and angiotensin receptor blockers (valsartan), compared with placebo and valsartan in 700 patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) stages 3 and 4. The effect on cardiovascular comorbidity will also be observed. The observation period will be 3 years. The primary endpoints consists of doubling of serum creatinine, end stage renal disease (ESRD), and death from any cause. The secondary endpoints include changes of microalbuminuria or proteinuria, serum and urinary levels of TNF-a(tumor necrosis factor-alpha ), MCP-1(monocyte chemotactic protein), TGF-beta1(transforming growth factor ), collagens III (amino terminal peptide of procollagen III) and IV, and fibronectin, urinary N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase, as well as serum fibrinogen and high-sensitive CRP(C reactive protein), and development of heart failure, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and stroke or transient ischemic attack.