Predicting renal disease in type I diabetics: smoke and fire or smoke and mirrors?

This review has demonstrated that DN is common and can occur in one-third to one-half of IDDM patients. DN has a strong metabolic component, but there is also a component of genetic susceptibility. Persistent microalbuminuria is currently the most convenient and reliable predictor of nephropathy. Finally, Na/LiCTT, an experimental (and not yet commercially available) blood test, is felt to be a predictor of familial susceptibility to hypertension, and may be a marker of the risk of nephropathy in IDDM.