Abstract: AIM: To investigate the effects of irbesartan combined with glutathione sodium on oxidative stress in patients with diabetic nephropathy(DN) and to explore its function in the protection of kidney. METHODS: A total of 120 cases of DN were retrospectively analyzed in this study. The patients were divided into three groups: normal treatment group(A, n=34), irbesartan treatment group(B, n=42) , irbesartan combined with glutathione sodium treatment group(C, n=44). The 24 h urine protein quantitation, FGB, TG, BUN, SCr, K⁺ were determined before and after treatment. The activity of SOD was detected by spectrophotometer. The expression of MDA was detected by chromatometry. RESULTS: The 24 h urine protein quantitation, FGB, BUN, and SCr became better after different treatment(P<0.05). However, the TG and K⁺ were not changed after different treatment(P>0.05). The changes of 24 h urine protein quantitation, FGB, BUN, and SCr were better in group B than those in group A(P<0.05). The changes of 24 h urine protein quantitation, FGB, BUN, and SCr were better in group C than those in group B(P<0.05). After treatment, the SOD activity was elevated and the expression of MDA was decreased in group C. However ,no change was found in group A and B(P>0.05). The total effective rate in group A, B, and C was 44.1%, 61.9%, and 81.8%, respectively. The total effective rate in group C was higher than that in group A and B(P<0.05).CONCLUSION: Irbesartan combined with glutathione sodium treatment significantly increases the activity of SOD and decreases the levels of MDA in patient with DN, which downregulates oxidative stress, decreases urine protein quantitation, and shows protective function of of kendey.

Key words: Diabetic nephropathy(DN), Irbesartan, Glutathione sodium, Oxidative stress