Pyrazinoylguanidine in End-Stage Renal Disease: A Prospective, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients receiving dialysis. In these patients, hypertriglyceridemia appears to increase the risk of accelerated atherosclerosis. The present placebo-controlled study evaluated prospectively lipid-lowering effects of pyrazinoylguanidine (PZG) in 6 ESRD patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. The design of the study entailed a placebo phase of 1 week followed by 3 weeks of PZG, 400 mg three times a day. Compared to placebo, PZG reduced serum triglycerides (PZG vs. placebo 370 ± 171 vs. 414 ± 182 mg/dl; p = 0.01). PZG also tended to decrease total cholesterol. In addition, PZG selectively lowered blood glucose in hyperglycemic patients. PZG was well tolerated; it did not interfere with hemodynamic parameters or alter liver function tests, nutritional parameters or dialysis clearance.