Evidence Intelligence™
- EvidenceScore™
- Emerging
- Score 59 · Based on 1 study
- ImpactScore™
- 100
- Very Positive
- ConsistencyScore™
- unclear
- Not enough independent studies
Supporting studies: Based on 1 study
Add to Evidence TrackerPharmacological TreatmentsComplicationsType 2 Diabetes (T2D)
Research Summary
Analyzed using Evidence Intelligence™
Pentoxifylline may protect kidney and heart health in diabetic nephropathy
Last updated June 1, 2026
Key finding
In adults with type 2 diabetes and advanced diabetic nephropathy, pentoxifylline lowered albuminuria and helped preserve kidney function and left ventricular mass compared with placebo.
This randomized trial tested pentoxifylline against placebo in adults with type 2 diabetes and advanced diabetic kidney disease. Over 12 months, pentoxifylline improved albuminuria, preserved estimated kidney filtration, and prevented worsening left ventricular mass, with no serious safety signal reported.
Quick read
Study at a glance
The essential study design details in one scan.
EvidenceScore™
Moderate
Study type
Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs)
Follow-up
Medium-Term (3–12 mo)
Risk of bias
Some Concerns
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Plain-language summary
What this paper says
A plain-language read of the study’s main message and where it applies.
Study focus
In adults with type 2 diabetes and advanced diabetic nephropathy, pentoxifylline lowered albuminuria and helped preserve kidney function and left ventricular mass compared with placebo.
Published in
Journal Reference
Publication details and source links for this paper.
Short- and Middle-Term Nephroprotective and Cardioprotective Effects of Pentoxifylline in Patients with Diabetic Nephropathy: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Med Sci (Basel). 2026;14(1):26. doi:10.3390/medsci14010026
Main Effects
↓ Albuminuria at 6 and 12 months compared with placebo
↑ Estimated glomerular filtration rate preservation at 12 months compared with placebo
↓ Left ventricular mass index worsening at 6 and 12 months compared with placebo
Evidence network
How this study fits
Understand where this research contributes within the broader evidence network.
Evidence Context
This study contributes evidence to Pentoxifylline and Albuminuria, Estimated glomerular filtration rate, Left ventricular mass index, and 1 more.
This study contributes evidence to
Primary intervention
Pentoxifylline
Primary outcomes
- Albuminuria
- Estimated glomerular filtration rate
- Left ventricular mass index
Evidence topics
Primary intervention
Evidence relationships
Intervention and outcome relationships this study adds to the evidence network.
4
Evidence pairs
4
Relationships
1
Evidence topics
contributes_evidence
Editorial context
Why this study matters
See why this paper is useful beyond its individual results.
Evidence network role
This section describes how the study fits into the current evidence network. It does not determine whether an intervention works on its own.
Moderate contributionModerate confidenceNetwork score: 72
1
Related topics
4
Evidence pairs
65
Related studies
High relevance in at least one topic
Why it is useful
- Contributes to 4 evidence relationships
- Includes primary outcome data
- Uses a randomized study design signal
- Linked to 1 direct semantic evidence topic
Topic contributions
Evidence topic
Contributes evidence
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Primary evidence
Evidence topic
Diabetic Kidney Disease
matched_intervention_and_outcome
Core evidence
Study findings
The primary outcomes reported in this study.
Estimated glomerular filtration rate
Pentoxifylline → Estimated glomerular filtration rate
Pentoxifylline → Estimated glomerular filtration rate
Evidence Intelligence™
- EvidenceScore™
- Emerging
- Score 59 · Based on 1 study
- ImpactScore™
- 50
- Neutral
- ConsistencyScore™
- unclear
- Not enough independent studies
Supporting studies: Based on 1 study
Add to Evidence TrackerLeft ventricular mass index
Pentoxifylline → Left ventricular mass index
Pentoxifylline → Left ventricular mass index
Evidence Intelligence™
- EvidenceScore™
- Emerging
- Score 59 · Based on 1 study
- ImpactScore™
- 50
- Neutral
- ConsistencyScore™
- unclear
- Not enough independent studies
Supporting studies: Based on 1 study
Add to Evidence TrackerEvidence Intelligence™
- EvidenceScore™
- Emerging
- Score 59 · Based on 1 study
- ImpactScore™
- 55
- Slightly Positive
- ConsistencyScore™
- unclear
- Not enough independent studies
Supporting studies: Based on 1 study
Add to Evidence TrackerEvidence Library
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Evidence Suggest
- Microalbuminuria increased in placebo but decreased in the pentoxifylline group at 6 and 12 months.
- Estimated GFR declined more in placebo than with pentoxifylline, with the 12-month difference favoring pentoxifylline.
- Left ventricular mass index increased in placebo but stayed roughly stable in the pentoxifylline group.
Who this applies to
Adults with type 2 diabetes.
Keep in Mind
This was an exploratory trial using surrogate outcomes.
Between the Lines
- Per-protocol analysis may be less protective against bias than intention-to-treat analysis.
- Final analyzed sample was small, with 93 participants.
- Outcomes were surrogate kidney and cardiac markers, not dialysis, major cardiovascular events, or mortality.
- The trial was conducted in one health system, which may limit generalizability.
Evidence Library
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Connected Evidence
Explore related studies, evidence collections, and research questions.
Relationships organized using the Dediabetes Evidence Intelligence™ framework.
This study contributes to evidence on Pentoxifylline and Kidney Function, Pentoxifylline and Kidney Function.
Related evidence relationships
Explore in Evidence ExplorerThis study contributes to the evidence on the following intervention-outcome relationships.
Medications
Pentoxifylline → Kidney Function
Medications
Evidence Intelligence™
- EvidenceScore™
- Emerging
- Score 59 · Based on 1 study
- ImpactScore™
- 100
- Very Positive
- ConsistencyScore™
- unclear
- Not enough independent studies
Supporting studies: Based on 1 study
View evidenceMedications
Pentoxifylline → Kidney Function
Medications
Evidence Intelligence™
- EvidenceScore™
- Emerging
- Score 59 · Based on 1 study
- ImpactScore™
- 50
- Neutral
- ConsistencyScore™
- unclear
- Not enough independent studies
Supporting studies: Based on 1 study
View evidenceIncluded in these evidence collections
Curated evidence collections and hubs this study is part of.
Explore more in Evidence Explorer
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All studies on Pentoxifylline and Albuminuria
Intervention: PentoxifyllineOutcome: Albuminuria
1 results
All studies on Pentoxifylline and Estimated glomerular filtration rate
Intervention: PentoxifyllineOutcome: Estimated glomerular filtration rate
1 results
All studies on Pentoxifylline
Intervention: Pentoxifylline
1 results
All studies measuring Albuminuria
Outcome: Albuminuria
1 results
All studies measuring Estimated glomerular filtration rate
Outcome: Estimated glomerular filtration rate
1 results
Questions answered by this study
Generated from the study's connected evidence using Evidence Intelligence™.
Does Pentoxifylline improve albuminuria?
Emerging Evidence
Pentoxifylline appears to improve Albuminuria.
ConsistencyScore™: Consistency cannot yet be determined from the available evidence.
Ranked evidence signals
- 1
Albuminuria
EvidenceScore™ Emerging | EvidenceScore™ 59.0 | strong positive | ConsistencyScore™ Unclear | 1 study
Why this answer: This answer is based on a single supporting study.
Limitations
- Only one supporting study is available.
- Consistency cannot yet be determined.
- Population details are unavailable.
Does Pentoxifylline improve nt-probnp?
Emerging Evidence
Pentoxifylline may improve NT-proBNP.
ConsistencyScore™: Consistency cannot yet be determined from the available evidence.
Ranked evidence signals
- 1
NT-proBNP
EvidenceScore™ Emerging | EvidenceScore™ 59.0 | weak positive | ConsistencyScore™ Unclear | 1 study
Why this answer: This answer is based on a single supporting study.
Limitations
- Only one supporting study is available.
- Consistency cannot yet be determined.
- Population details are unavailable.
Does Pentoxifylline improve estimated glomerular filtration rate?
Emerging Evidence
Current evidence does not show a clear benefit of Pentoxifylline for Estimated glomerular filtration rate.
ConsistencyScore™: Consistency cannot yet be determined from the available evidence.
Ranked evidence signals
- 1
Estimated glomerular filtration rate
EvidenceScore™ Emerging | EvidenceScore™ 59.0 | neutral | ConsistencyScore™ Unclear | 1 study
Why this answer: This answer is based on a single supporting study.
Limitations
- Only one supporting study is available.
- Consistency cannot yet be determined.
- Population details are unavailable.
Does Pentoxifylline improve left ventricular mass index?
Emerging Evidence
Current evidence does not show a clear benefit of Pentoxifylline for Left ventricular mass index.
ConsistencyScore™: Consistency cannot yet be determined from the available evidence.
Ranked evidence signals
- 1
Left ventricular mass index
EvidenceScore™ Emerging | EvidenceScore™ 59.0 | neutral | ConsistencyScore™ Unclear | 1 study
Why this answer: This answer is based on a single supporting study.
Limitations
- Only one supporting study is available.
- Consistency cannot yet be determined.
- Population details are unavailable.
Next steps
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