Abstract: Aim To examine whether AER(albumin excretion rate) in normotensive diabetic patients can be effectively inhibited by ACEI. Methods Literature on randomized controlled trials of ACEI for inhibiting AER in normotensive dia-betic patients was searched. The electronic databases retrieved were Medline(1980-2003), Embase database (1980-2000), Cochrane Library, CL( 1980-2004), CBMdisc( 1980 - 2002), and IPA(1980-2002). Seven studies were chosen.Data were combined by Revman 4.2. Results The pooled effect of change in AER is -56.31 μg·min^-1 [-81.96, -30.66] (P<0.0001). According to the analysis of subgroups, the pooled effects of 1-5 years are -11.97μg·min^-1 [-22.04, -1.89](P = 0.02), -28.01 μg· min^-1[-34.50, -21.52](P<0.00001), -43.24 μg·min^-1[-57.15, -29.32] (P<0.00001), -61.65 μg·min^-1 [-77.77,-45.54] (P<0.00001), and -98.41 μg·min^-1 [-162.02,-34.79] ( P = 0.002). Regarding progression toclinincal proteinuria as end-point,the pooled Peto OR =0.27 [0.18,0.40] (95% CI), P<0.00001. According to the analysis of subgroups, the pooled effects of 2 and 5 years are Peto OR = 0.30 [0.18,0.51] (P<0.00001) and Peto OR=0.25 [0.13,0.50](P<0.0001). Publication bias is small. Conclusion In normotensive diabetic patients, ACEI inhibits AER effectively and reduces the probability of progression of microalbuminuria to clinical proteinuria.

Key words: Angiotensin-converting enzyme mhibitor, Angiotensin-converting enzyme mhibitor, diabetes mellitus, diabetes mellitus, microalbuminuria, microalbuminuria, urine protein, urine protein, meta-analysis, meta-analysis