Objective To assess the effect of candesartan cilexetil plus enalapril on serum inflammatory factors and 24-h urinary albumin excretion rate（UAER）in patients with early diabetic nephropathy（DN）.Methods A total of 106 patients with early DN who were treated at a Shenyang hospital from September 2015 to September 2016 were included in this study.Patients were randomized into the study group（n=53）and the control group（n=53）by using a random number table.Patients in the control group received oral candesartan cilexetil alone

while those in the study group received candesartan cilexetil plus enalapril.At baseline and Month 3

the levels of serum inflammatory factors including interleukin-6（IL-6）

interleukin-1β（IL-1β）

tumor necrosis factor-α（TNF-α）and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein（hs-CRP）

as well as UAER and renal functions were assessed and compared between the two groups.Adverse events were also recorded and compared between the two groups after 3-month treatment.Results At baseline

the levels of IL-6

IL-1β

TNF-αand hs-CRP were similar between the two groups（P>0.05）.At Month 3

the IL-6

IL-1β

TNF-αand hs-CRP levers were decreased compared with those at baseline in both groups;these levels in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group（P<0.05）.At baseline

the UAER

blood urea nitrogen（BUN）

and serum creatinine（SCr）levels were comparable between the two groups（P>0.05）.At Month 3

the UAER

BUN and SCr levels were reduced compared with those at baseline in both groups;these levels in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group（P<0.05）.The incidence of adverse events were similar between the two groups（P>0.05）.Conclusion For patients with early DN

candesartan cilexetil combined with enalapril may effectively improve the microinflammation state

reduce UAER

and delay disease progression

which deserves widespread clinical applications.