Distinct Biomarkers for Early Diagnosis of Diabetic Nephropathy

Abstract

Background: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the foremost causes of mortality in diabetic patients as a result of increased urinary albumin excretion (UAE) rate and compromised renal function.

Introduction: Determination of increased excretion of albumin in urine chiefly attribute to the onset and progression of DN. However, due to certain limitations of albuminuria, the search for more sensitive, specific and reliable renal biomarkers is required for early prediction of DN.

Methods: Bibliographic investigation was made to scrutinize the data reporting relevant biomarkers associated with DN and may be used to predict the onset and progression of nephropathy.

Result and conclusion: Optimization of biomarkers for a clinical situation requires a prospective validation in large numbers of patients with diabetic nephropathy and needs to be performed in different critically ill populations.

Keywords: Albuminuria; albumin; biomarkers; diabetic nephropathy; diagnostic method; emerging biomarkers.