Early Diabetic Nephropathy and Retinopathy in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Attending Sudan Childhood Diabetes Centre.

OBJECTIVE: Data on microvascular complications in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in Sudan are scarce. This study was aimed at determining the prevalence of diabetic nephropathy (DN) and retinopathy (DR) and their relationship to certain risk factors in children with T1DM attending the Sudan Childhood Diabetes Centre. Design and Methods. A clinic-based cross-sectional study of 100 patients with T1DM aged 10-18 years. Patients with disease duration exceeding 5 years if the onset of diabetes was prepubertal and 2 years if it was postpubertal were included. Relevant sociodemographic, clinical, and biochemical information was obtained. Blood pressure was measured. The patients were screened for DN and DR using urinary microalbumin estimation and fundus photography, respectively. RESULTS: The frequency of microalbuminuria and diabetic retinopathy was 36% and 33%, respectively. Eleven percent had both retinopathy and microalbuminuria. Seven percent of the patients were found to be hypertensive. Patients with diabetic retinopathy had significantly higher HbA1c levels (p = 0.009) and longer diabetes duration (p = 0.02) than patients without retinopathy. Logistic regression showed that high HbA1c (odds ratio (OR) 0.83, confidence interval (CI) 0.68-1.00, p = 0.04), but not age, duration, ethnic group, BMI, blood pressure, and presence of nephropathy, was an independent risk factor for retinopathy. Likewise, high blood pressure (OR 6.89, CI 1.17-40.52, p = 0.03), but not age, duration, ethnic group, BMI, HbA1c, and presence of retinopathy, was a predictor for nephropathy. CONCLUSION: High prevalence of incipient DN and early stages of DR were observed in this study. Longer diabetes duration and higher HbA1c were associated with the presence of diabetic retinopathy. High blood pressure was a risk factor for DN. So regular screening for these complications and optimization of glycemic control are needed.

Kidney function changes and their relation with the progression of cerebral small vessel disease and cognitive decline.

AIMS: We aimed to study whether worsening in markers of kidney function parallels the progression in cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD) and cognitive decline. METHODS: Data from the ISSYS (Investigating Silent Strokes in Hypertensives Study), a longitudinal population-based study in hypertensives aged 50-70 and dementia and stroke-free at baseline. At both visits, patients underwent a brain MRI, a cognitive diagnosis (normal aging or mild cognitive impairment, [MCI]) and urine and blood sampling collection. We assessed the incidence of infarcts and cerebral microbleeds, and the progression of white matter hyperintensities at periventricular (PVH) and deep areas. We determined changes in albumin-creatinine ratio and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). These changes were dichotomized into microalbuminuria at follow-up -either in subjects with or without baseline microalbuminuria- and significant decline in eGFR -lowest quintile of eGFR change (-10.57 mL/min/1.73m2)-. RESULTS: 360 patients were followed-up for 4 years. 80 (23%) patients presented microalbuminuria at follow-up and 68 (20.1%) experienced a significant eGFR decline. Considering cSVD change, we found a relationship between microalbuminuria at follow-up and progression in PVH (ß = 0.31, P-value = .01). Regarding cognitive decline, presence of microalbuminuria at follow-up related to a steeper decrease in memory function (ß = -0.36, P-value<.01). Moreover, patients with significant decline in eGFR were at higher risk of incident MCI (OR = 3.54, P-value = .02). These associations were independent of progression of cSVD. CONCLUSION: The worsening in markers of kidney function paralleled the decrease in cognition and the progression of cSVD, and this may be explained by common shared underlying risk factors.

Relationship between Renal Doppler Indices and Biochemical indices of Renal Function in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

OBJECTIVES: Diabetic nephropathy is a common complication of diabetes mellitus due to microangiopathy leading to end stage renal disease. This study determined the relationship between renal resistivity index and pulsatility index with biochemical indices of renal function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus methods: This study involved 80 adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER) and serum creatinine levels were measured, and the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated. Right renal resistivity index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) values were determined. RESULTS: Mean renal resistivity index was 0.72±0.06 while the pulsatility index was 1.36 ± 0.24. Resistivity index was positively correlated with albuminuria (r = 0.426; p <0.001) and serum creatinine (r = 0.458; p <0.001), but negatively correlated with eGFR (r = -0.399; p <0.001). There was positive correlation between pulsatility index and albuminuria (r = 0.341; p = 0.002), and serum creatinine (r = 0.478; p = <0.001); and negative correlation between PI and eGFR (r = - 0.359; p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Renal resistivity index and pulsatility index may provide valuable non-invasive estimate of predicting the presence and severity of renal dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Imaging mass spectrometry reveals direct albumin fragmentation within the diabetic kidney.

Albumin degradation in the renal tubules is impaired in diabetic nephropathy such that levels of the resulting albumin fragments increase with the degree of renal injury. However, the mechanism of albumin degradation is unknown. In particular, fragmentation of the endogenous native albumin has not been demonstrated in the kidney and the enzymes that may contribute to fragmentation have not been identified. To explore this we utilized matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization imaging mass spectrometry for molecular profiling of specific renal regions without disturbing distinct tissue morphology. Changes in protein expression were measured in kidney sections of eNOS-/-db/db mice, a model of diabetic nephropathy, by high spatial resolution imaging allowing molecular localizations at the level of single glomeruli and tubules. Significant increases were found in the relative abundances of several albumin fragments in the kidney of the mice with diabetic nephropathy compared with control nondiabetic mice. The relative abundance of fragments detected correlated positively with the degree of nephropathy. Furthermore, specific albumin fragments accumulating in the lumen of diabetic renal tubules were identified and predicted the enzymatic action of cathepsin D based on cleavage specificity and in vitro digestions. Importantly, this was demonstrated directly in the renal tissue with the endogenous nonlabeled murine albumin. Thus, our results provide molecular insights into the mechanism of albumin degradation in diabetic nephropathy.

Albuminuria and Cerebral Small Vessel Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether albuminuria, a marker of systemic endothelial dysfunction, is associated with cerebral small vessel disease (SVD). DESIGN: Systematic review following the Meta-analyses Of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines; independent reviewers searched Pubmed/Medline and Scopus, data were extracted, studies were evaluated on quality, and random-effects models were implemented for meta-analysis. SETTING: Observational studies quantifying an association between albuminuria and cerebral SVD. PARTICIPANTS: Adults. MEASUREMENTS: Magnetic resonance imaging-defined markers of cerebral SVD; white matter hyperintensities (WMHs), lacunar infarcts (LIs), cerebral microbleeds (CMBs), and enlarged perivascular spaces (EPVSs). RESULTS: Of 31 eligible studies comprising 23,056 participants identified, 27 were included in quantitative synthesis. Most of the studies were cross-sectional and of varying quality. On meta-analysis, albuminuria was associated with greater risk of WMHs (odds ratio (OR) = 1.70, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.43-2.01; 13,548 subjects, 2,665 cases; I2  = 44%), LIs (OR = 1.86, 95% CI = 1.49-2.31; 12,857 subjects, 998 cases; I2  = 27%), CMBs (OR = 1.78, 95% CI = 1.30-2.43; 7,645 subjects; 748 cases; I2  = 39%), and EPVSs in the basal ganglia (OR = 1.78, 95% CI = 1.02-3.09; 1,388 subjects, 399 cases; I2  = 37%) and centrum semiovale (OR = 3.27, 95% CI = 1.49-7.20; 1,146 subjects, 460 cases; I2  = 66%). Sensitivity analyses for high-quality and general population studies, but also studies controlling for cardiovascular disease risk factors and renal function, confirmed the findings and resolved the moderate heterogeneity and publication bias that were evident in the overall analyses. CONCLUSION: Albuminuria is independently associated with cerebral SVD, indicating shared microvascular pathology in the kidney and the brain. The results suggest that peripheral systemic microvascular disease biomarkers could be useful in the evaluation of brain microvascular damage.

Quantitative characterization of glomerular fibrosis with magnetic resonance imaging: a feasibility study in a rat glomerulonephritis model.

Glomerular fibrosis occurs in the early stages of multiple renal diseases, including hypertensive and diabetic nephropathy. Conventional assessment of glomerular fibrosis relies on kidney biopsy, which is invasive and does not reflect physiological aspects such as blood perfusion. In this study, we sought to assess potential changes of cortical perfusion and microstructure at different degrees of glomerular fibrosis using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A rat model of glomerular fibrosis was induced by injecting anti-Thy-1 monoclonal antibody OX-7 to promote mesangial extracellular matrix proliferation. For six rats on day 5 and five rats on day 12 after the induction, we measured renal cortical perfusion and spin-spin relaxation time (T2) in a 3-Tesla MRI scanner. T2 reflects tissue microstructural changes. Glomerular fibrosis severity was evaluated by histological analysis and proteinuria. Four rats without fibrosis were included as controls. In the control rats, the periodic acid-Schiff (PAS)-positive area was 22 ± 1% of total glomerular tuft, which increased significantly to 56 ± 12% and 45 ± 10% in the day 5 and day 12 fibrotic groups, respectively ( P < 0.01). For the three groups (control, day 5, and day 12 after OX-7 injection), cortical perfusion was 7.27 ± 2.54, 3.78 ± 2.17, and 3.32 ± 2.62 ml·min-1·g-1, respectively, decreasing with fibrosis severity ( P < 0.01), and cortical T2 was 75.2 ± 4.6, 84.1 ± 3.0, and 87.9 ± 5.6 ms, respectively ( P < 0.01). In conclusion, extracellular matrix proliferation in glomerular mesangial cells severely diminished blood flow through the glomeruli and also altered cortical microstructure to increase cortical T2. The MRI-measured parameters are proven to be sensitive markers for characterizing glomerular fibrosis.

The role of microalbuminuria as a predictor of subclinical cardiovascular events in rheumatoid arthritis patients and its relation to disease activity.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease that affects many body tissues and leads to major morbidity and mortality. Renal disease in RA is clinically important because it restricts the management of primary disease and increases mortality. The objectives of this study are to (1) investigate the difference between RA patients with and without microalbuminuria (MAU) and (2) find out the relation between MAU and disease activity as well as subclinical cardiovascular effects. Ninety RA patients were divided into two groups according to the presence of MAU, in addition to 30 healthy volunteers. ESR, hs-CRP, RF, lipid profile, urinary microalbumin, GFR, renal function tests, carotid intima media thickness (cIMT), flow-mediated dilatation of the brachial artery (FMD), ECG, and echocardiographic examination were performed for patients and controls. MAU positive RA patients revealed significantly higher lipid profile, ESR, hs-CRP, DAS 28, cIMT, and lower FMD as well as ECG and echocardiographic abnormalities compared to MAU negative RA patients. Moreover, there was significant positive correlation between MAU and DAS28, hs-CRP, LDL, cIMT as well as negative correlation with FMD%. In our study, all RA patients with MAU had a normal serum creatinine concentration and gave a negative result with Albustix. MAU is significantly correlated with ESR, hs-CRP, lipid profile, cIMT, and FMD% in RA patients; therefore, it can be used as an index to measure disease activity as well as subclinical cardiovascular affection in RA patients.

CRM en hipertensión arterial, más allá del corazón / CMR in hypertension. looking beyond the heart

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Atgl deficiency induces podocyte apoptosis and leads to glomerular filtration barrier damage.

Abnormal lipid metabolism, renal lipid accumulation and lipotoxicity are associated with the pathological features of glomerulopathy. However, the mechanisms by which lipid accumulation leads to the development or progression of this disease have not been fully elucidated. In this work, we have identified a role for the rate-limiting enzyme in lipolysis, adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL; also called patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing protein 2), in renal lipid metabolism and kidney disease. ATGL-deficient (Atgl(-/-)) mice displayed albuminuria, accompanied by ectopic deposition of fat in the kidney. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated that the contrast agent gadopentetic acid was retained in kidney tissue, suggesting defects in the glomerular filtration barrier. Furthermore, transmission electron microscopy revealed lipid deposits in the podocyte, along with foot process fusion and morphological changes suggestive of apoptosis. Indeed, shRNA-mediated depletion of ATGL promoted podocyte apoptosis, accompanied by increased levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and F-actin fibre redistribution. These effects could be partially reversed by treatment with the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine. These data suggest that ATGL deficiency induces renal lipid accumulation, proteinuria and glomerular filtration barrier dysfunction and implicate increased intracellular ROS levels in inducing podocyte F-actin rearrangement, foot process fusion and apoptosis that underlie these pathological features. ENZYMES: Adipose triglyceride lipase, EC3.1.1.3.

Diffusion tensor imaging of the renal cortex in diabetic patients: correlation with urinary and serum biomarkers.

PURPOSE: To demonstrate role of diffusion tensor imaging of the kidney in diabetic patients and to correlate renal fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of the renal cortex with urinary and serum biomarkers of diabetes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective study was conducted upon 42 diabetic patients (28 males, 14 females; mean age = 33 years) and 17 age- and sex-matched volunteers. Diabetic patients were micro-normoalbuminuric (n = 27) and macroalbuminuric (n = 15). Patients and volunteers underwent diffusion tensor imaging of the kidney. The FA and ADC of the renal cortex were calculated from 3 regions of interests of both kidneys. RESULTS: The mean FA and ADC of the renal cortex in diabetic patients (0.36 ± 0.10 and 1.74 ± 0.16 × 10-3 mm2/s) was significantly different (p = 0.001) from that of volunteers (0.26 ± 0.02 and 1.88 ± 0.03 × 10-3 mm2/s). The cut-off renal FA and ADC used to differentiate diabetic patients from volunteers were 0.28 and 1.89 × 10-3 mm2/s with AUC of 0.791 and 0.773 and accuracy of 71% and 76%. The FA and ADC calculated in the renal cortex in patients with macroalbuminuria (0.43 ± 0.10 and 1.63 ± 0.19 × 10-3 mm2/s) was significantly different (p = 0.001) from that of patients with micro-normoalbuminuria (0.35 ± 0.12 and 1.80 ± 0.18 × 10-3 mm2/s). The FA and ADC of the renal cortex in diabetic patients correlated with urinary albumin (r = 0.530; p = 0.001, r = -0.421; p = 0.006), urinary NAG (r = 0.376; p = 0.014, r = -0.245; p = 0.01), urinary TGF-ß1 (r = 0.287; p = 0.065, r = -0.214; p = 0.175), and serum creatinine (r = 0.381; p = 0.013, r = -0.349; p = 0.023). CONCLUSION: The FA and ADC of the renal cortex may help in differentiation of diabetic kidney from volunteers and prediction of the presence of macroalbuminuria in diabetic patients and correlated with some of the urinary and serum biomarkers of diabetes.

Usefulness of the renal resistive index to predict an increase in urinary albumin excretion in patients with essential hypertension.

Microalbuminuria is a risk factor for cardiovascular events and death in hypertensive patients. Patients who are expected to increase albuminuria need strict blood pressure control. In the present study, we assessed the association between the renal resistive index (RI) and future increases in albuminuria in patients with essential hypertension. Sixty-six patients with essential hypertension were included in the study. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify the factors, including renal RI, that were significant independent determinants of increased in urinary albumin excretion (UAE), defined as an increase of >50% in the urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio over 2 years. Receiver operator characteristics curve analysis was used to select the optimal cut-off point that predicted an increase in UAE. RI was the only significant variable that predicted the increase in UAE, with the optimal cut-off value of renal RI that predicted this increase being 0.71 (sensitivity 52.4% and specificity 84.4%). Renal RI is associated with the future increase in albuminuria in patients with essential hypertension.

The evaluation of renal hemodynamics changes in Familial Mediterranean fever with color Doppler sonography.

BACKGROUND: Renal resistive index (RRI) scanned through renal Doppler is a practical marker employed in measuring blood flow in renal and intrarenal arteries and in noninvasive evaluation of renal vascular resistance. We aimed to investigate the renal hemodynamic variations in patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seventy-nine FMF patients and 51 healthy subjects suitable for age and sex were included. Patients were divided into two groups according to their urinary albumin excretion. Fifty-two patients with 0-29 mg/day albuminuria were included in the normoalbuminuric group while 27 patients with 30-299 mg/day albuminuria were included in the microalbuminuric group. RESULTS: RRI values were higher in patients with FMF compared to the healthy subjects (p < 0.0001). Additionally, RRI values were found to be higher in the microalbuminuric patients group compared to the normoalbuminuric patients group, and RRI values were also higher in normoalbuminuric patients group compared to the control group (p = 0.002, p < 0.0001). The ROC curve analysis suggested that the optimum RRI cutoff value for microalbuminuria in patients was 0.63, sensitivity of 66%, specificity of 60%, and p = 0.013. CONCLUSION: RRI may be a marker that may be used in assessing resistance to renal blood flow, early renal damage, and progression of renal damage in FMF patients.

Scoring System Development and Added Value of Albuminuria to Estimate Carotid Intima-media Thickness (CIMT) in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients.

AIM: to develop a scoring system and measure the diagnostic added value of albuminuria to estimate CIMT. METHODS: cross-sectional study was done in Endocrine Outpatient Clinic Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital between March-May 2012 in T2DM patients without history of cerebrocardiovascular event, CKD stage ≥ III, and smoking. Bivariate analysis and multivariate (logistic regression) analysis was done, followed by developing the scoring system. RESULTS: from 71 subjects, there were 67.6% with increased CIMT and 73.3% with albuminuria. From 48 subjects with increased CIMT, 87.5% had albuminuria. Albuminuria measurement had high sensitivity (87.5%). Adding albuminuria measurement will increase the AUC as 2.3%. Estimation score for duration of DM, hypertension, dyslipidemia were as follows 1, 2, 1 respectively. Probability score of increased CIMT for score <2, 2, and >2 was as follows 15%, 57%, and 90%. CONCLUSION: albuminuria measurement increase the diagnostic value of CIMT. Scoring system can be used as a screening tool to estimate the increased of CIMT in type 2 DM patients without history of cerebrocardiovascular event, CKD stage ≥ III, and smoking.

[INTERRELATIONS BETWEEN MICROALBUMINURIA AND RENAL FUNCTION WITH CONTRACTILE ABILITY OF LEFT VENTRICLE IN CARDIORENAL SYNDROME PATIENTS].

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) increases the risk of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease as well as progression to end stage kidney failure. The relationship of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and albuminuria with clinical outcomes in the general population are revealed. This allows to present levels of GFR and microalbuminuria (MA), which increases the risk of mortality. Renal dysfunction, which revealed by the level of GFR and creatinine, can have definite role in hemodynamic changes and heart failure progression. For mentioning the interaction of cardiovascular and renal diseases the cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) term was introduced, with its classification on 5 types, according to the presence of acute/chronic heart failure and primary/secondary origination of heart and kidney injury. We study interrelations between echocardiographic data of left ventricular remodeling, MA level and degree of renal dysfunction in 115 patients with CRS. MA was measured with diagnostic strips, contractile function of left ventricle (LV) - by echocardiography and GFR was assessed by Cocroft-Gault method. The association between MA with decreased GFR and elevated creatinine levels and its connection with increased LV myocardial mass and preclinical disturbances of LV systolic function was revealed. We determined direct correlation between MA and myocardial mass index and indirect - between ejection fraction of LV and MA. Obtained data allow to mention the level of MA (25,4±5,8 ng/ml) in which there is more probability of LV contractile functional changes, which will allow early prediction and prevention of CRS progression and pathogenetically approved pharmacotherapy organization in this category patients.

Renal function in adult Jamaicans with homozygous sickle cell disease.

OBJECTIVES: As populations with sickle cell disease (SCD) live longer, it is likely that the burden of renal dysfunction will be an increasing challenge for patients. In this study, we aim to determine the prevalence of renal dysfunction and its possible predictors in persons with SCD. METHODS: Ninety-eight patients with the homozygous SCD (SS disease;55 females, 43 males; mean age 34 ± 2.3 years) in their steady state had measurements of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) using 99mTc-DTPA nuclear renal scan, serum creatinine, and urinary albumin: creatinine ratio. Other haematological and biochemical measurements and data on clinical events were completed for each individual. RESULTS: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages 3 and above was present in 6% of the study population, and 65.3% had albuminuria. Hyperfiltration occurred in 24.5% patients with two-thirds having albuminuria as well. Serum creatinine was an insensitive marker of renal dysfunction as started rising after measured GFR fell below 50 mls/min/1.73 m(2). Multiple regression modelling showed serum creatinine and height to be significantly associated with GFR. Serum creatinine was also significantly associated with albuminuria, and age was not a predictor in any of the models. There was no association with markers of haemolysis. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the burden of renal dysfunction is quite high in this young cohort with SS disease. Serum creatinine is a late and insensitive marker of worsening glomerular function, and screening for albuminuria could begin early in life. Longitudinal studies will continue to increase our understanding of pathophysiological mechanisms that lead to CKD in this specific population.

Three-dimensional power Doppler indices of preeclamptic placentas correlated to umbilical artery Doppler and albuminuria.

UNLABELLED: Abstract Purpose: To obtain three-dimensional power Doppler (3DPD) indices of placenta in pregnancies complicated with preeclampsia compared to normal pregnancies and correlated to umbilical artery Doppler and albuminuria. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted at Ain Shams University Maternity Hospital. Evaluation of placental vascular indices, vascularization index (VI), flow index (FI) and vascularization flow index (VFI), was done using 3DPD in 80 preeclampsia pregnancies compared to 80 normal controls. RESULTS: 3DPD indices (VI, FI and VFI) of preeclampsia cases revealed lower values than controls (p<0.001). There was a statistical inverse correlation between albuminuria versus VI (p<0.05) and a statistical inverse correlation was found between VI, FI and VFI versus umbilical artery RI. CONCLUSION: 3DPD indices of placental vasculature revealed lower values in preeclamptic pregnancies than normal pregnancies. Further studies are needed to discuss the possible role of 3DPD in predicting preeclampsia.

Childhood kidney outcomes in relation to fetal blood flow and kidney size.

Impaired fetal abdominal blood flow may lead to smaller kidneys and subsequent impaired kidney function in later life. In a prospective cohort study among 923 pregnant women and their children, we measured fetal growth, kidney volumes, and umbilical and cerebral artery blood flow (median gestational age of 30.3 weeks; 95% range, 28.5-32.7 weeks). We used a higher umbilical/cerebral artery pulsatility index ratio as an indicator of preferential fetal blood flow to the upper body parts at the expense of the intra-abdominal organs. At a median age of 5.9 years (95% range, 5.7-6.6 years), we measured childhood kidney volumes, creatinine and cystatin C blood levels, microalbuminuria, BP, and eGFR. A preferential fetal blood flow to the upper body parts at the expense of the intra-abdominal organs associated only with a smaller combined kidney volume in childhood. Fetal combined kidney volume positively associated with childhood combined kidney volume and eGFR, and inversely associated with childhood creatinine and cystatin C levels (all P values <0.05), but did not associate with childhood microalbuminuria and BP. Children within the highest tertile of fetal umbilical/cerebral ratio and the lowest tertile of fetal combined kidney volume had the lowest eGFR (difference, -6.36 ml/min per 1.73 m(2); 95% confidence interval, -11.78 to -0.94 compared with children within the middle tertiles). These data suggest that impaired fetal blood to the abdominal organs and smaller fetal kidney size are associated with subclinical changes in kidney outcomes in school-aged children.

Color Doppler sonographic dynamic tissue perfusion measurement demonstrates significantly reduced cortical perfusion in children with diabetes mellitus type 1 without microalbuminuria and apparently healthy kidneys.

MOTIVATION: With respect to the devastating consequences of the increasing prevalence of diabetes mellitus, the main reason for end stage renal disease and dialysis in industrialized countries, and the very limited diagnostic and therapeutic possibilities to predict, monitor and prevent diabetic nephropathy (DN), new concepts for early recognition and quantification of the prevailing microvascular changes in DN are urgently needed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We present the first study of renal cortical tissue perfusion measurement by means of standardized color Doppler sonographic videos evaluated with the PixelFlux software 1 for Dynamic Tissue Perfusion Measurement (DTPM) in 92 patients with DM1 without MA compared to 71 healthy probands. RESULTS: DTPM reveals a highly significant diminution of cortical perfusion in patients with DM1 compared to healthy probands by 31 %, most pronounced in the distal hemicortex (reduction by 50 %) compared to 21 % within the proximal hemicortex. CONCLUSION: Thus, DTPM offers a novel means of numerically describing the state of the renal microvasculature in DM in a patient-friendly, non-invasive, non-ionizing manner.

Correlation of chronic renal dysfunction and albuminuria with severity of coronary artery lesions in patients with coronary artery disease.

This study was conducted to investigate the possible correlation of chronic renal dysfunction and albuminuria with the severity of coronary artery lesions in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Two-hundred and ninety-nine patients who had undergone coronary angiography for suspected CAD were stratified into three groups according to the glomerular filtration rate (GFR): group I included 144 patients with normal renal function GFR >90 ml/(min × 1.73 m(2)), group II included 97 patients with mild renal impairment GFR 60-89 ml/(min × 1.73 m(2)), and group III included 58 patients with moderate renal impairment GFR <60 ml/(min × 1.73 m(2)). Patients were then stratified into two groups according to the albuminuria level (0; minimal, 1+, 2+, 3+): the albuminuria negative group (negative = 0) included 171 patients and the albuminuria positive group (positive = minimal, 1+, 2+, 3+) included 128 patients. Clinical features and coronary lesion characteristics were compared among these groups. Patients with more severe renal dysfunction and positive albuminuria had a higher incidence of CAD (66.7 vs. 70.1 vs. 72.4%, p = 0.025 and 64.2 vs. 75.0%, p = 0.032), more multi-vessel disease (31.2 vs. 41.2 vs. 53.4 %, p = 0.004 and 33.3 vs. 46.1%, p = 0.015), more left anterior descending branch lesions (50.7 vs. 56.7 vs. 60.3%, p = 0.012 and 49.1 vs. 61.7 %, p = 0.009), and a higher Gensini score (42.3 ± 14.7 vs. 46.1 ± 19.9 vs. 52.8 ± 21.2, p = 0.026 and 44.0 ± 16.0 vs. 50.5 ± 20.2, p = 0.017). In conclusion, chronic renal dysfunction and albuminuria may be important factors determining the occurrence and the severity of CAD. Albuminuria was an especially significant indicator at the early stage of renal dysfunction.

Albuminuria and carotid atherosclerosis as predictors of cognitive function in a general population.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Albuminuria and carotid atherosclerosis are predictors of cardiovascular disease and potential predictors of cognitive decline. Our aim was to study whether albuminuria was an early predictor of cognitive function independent of carotid atherosclerosis in a general population. METHODS: The study population comprised 1,577 adults without self-reported stroke. In 1994 and 2007 all were screened for cardiovascular risk factors, urinary albumin-creatinine ratio (ACR), carotid intima-media thickness and carotid total plaque area (TPA). Endpoints were neuropsychological test results in 2007 from the digit symbol test, the finger-tapping test, the Mini Mental Status Examination and the 12-word test parts 1 and 2. Multivariate linear regression was used to assess associations. RESULTS: Higher ACR, ΔACR, intima-media thickness, TPA and ΔTPA independently predicted a lower score on the digit symbol test. Higher ΔACR and ΔTPA predicted a lower score on the finger-tapping test. Higher TPA predicted a lower score on the 12-word test part 1 (immediate recall). Smoking predicted lower scores on the digit symbol and finger-tapping tests independent of albuminuria and carotid atherosclerosis. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that albuminuria, carotid atherosclerosis and smoking are independent predictors of executive function and motor tempo.