Renal failure is a major complication related to diabetes. The risk of End Stage Renal Disease leading to premature disease and death is high in diabetic patients. But there is good news now with a group of researchers coming up with urine based biomarker for early diabetic kidney failure prediction.
Renal disease is now generally detected through biomarker Microalbuminuna. But it takes several years of diabetes for MIC to occur. Moreover, interventions are also found less effective in certain patients with MIC with advanced pathological changes.
The researchers calculated the efficiency of Asymmetric to Symmetric dimethylarginine Ratio (ASR) using Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry (MALDI MS). They checked this in 500 people with varying glucose intolerance levels as well as in patients with type 2 diabetes. They checked in people with renal failure and with no failure. The researchers found ASR profile was lower in MIC and macroalbuminuria (MAC). This suggested it could be used as an early diagnostic marker, said lead researcher, Dr Venkateswarlu Panchagnula of National Chemical Laboratory (NCL), Pune.
He said that this provided an insight into the progression of the disease. This would help in prevention and management of the disease in patients with type 2 diabetes.
The research is a collaborative effort of NIMHANS, NCL and Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF). The study is published in Scientific Reports Journal.
