Treatment of the post-ischaemic inflammatory syndrome of diabetic nephropathy

Methods. Obese-diabetic ZS rats (F-1 hybrids of spontaneously hypertensive heart failure and Zucker fatty diabetic rats) were treated with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), subjected to renal ischaemia or sham surgery, and monitored via the powerful technique of intravital microscopy. Results. Amelioration of post-ischaemia inflammation with MMF therapy improved long-term renal function, microvascular dysfunction, fibrosis and apoptosis. Conclusion. These data support the hypothesis that the post-ischaemic inflammatory syndrome accelerates diabetic CKD, is a critical determinant of injury, and can be successfully treated.