The effect of non-albumin proteinuria on renal outcomes in patients with biopsy proven diabetic nephropathy

Abstract

Objective: We aimed at investigating the effect of non-albumin proteinuria on renal outcomes in patients with biopsy-proven diabetic nephropathy.

Patients and methods: The files of all patients who underwent kidney biopsy between January 2010 and January 2020 were reviewed retrospectively. Non-albumin proteinuria was calculated by subtracting albumin from total protein in 24-hour urine samples. The patients were divided into 2 groups, according to the presence of composite kidney outcomes.

Results: The study included 23 patients with diabetic nephropathy. The kidney endpoint was achieved in 34.8% (n=8) of the patients. Hypertension, duration of diabetes mellitus, creatinine level at the date of biopsy, microalbuminuria and non-albumin proteinuria were found to be independent predictors for composite kidney outcome (p=0.002, p=0.007, p=0.004, p=0.006, and p=0.001, respectively).

Conclusions: NAP was found to be an independent risk factor for doubling the serum creatinine level from the date of biopsy, for starting hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis, for kidney transplantation, and kidney-related death.