Abstract
Objectives
. Microalbuminuria has been clinically used for noninvasive evaluation of renal dysfunctions. However, it is a nonspecific marker of diabetic nephropathy (DN).
Methods
. This study was conducted from March 2012 to April 2013 at Biochemistry Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center (KFMRC). In this study, urinary osteopontin, podocytes number, and levels of immunoglobulin M (IgM) were determined in 60 patients (diabetic normoalbuminuria, diabetic microalbuminuria, and nephritic syndrome) compared with healthy subjects.
Results
. It was found that in diabetic microalbuminuria patients have a highly significant increase in urinary IgM, osteopontin, and podocyte levels as compared to other groups. Nephrotic syndrome patients showed a moderate significant elevation of these parameters compared to control subjects. At a given specificity of 97%, podocytes yielded the highest sensitivity of all markers, 95.5%. The sensitivity was considerably higher compared to IgM and osteopontin. Podocyte number was positively correlated with serum IgM and osteopontin (
r
= 0.63 and 0.56), respectively. Its cutoff corresponding to the 10% coefficient of variation was most appropriate for early diagnosis of DN.
Conclusion
. Monitoring urinary podocyte may provide a noninvasive tool that is a sensitive, accurate, and specific biomarker of glomerular injury and can be used in combination with osteopontin and IgM to more reliably detect and monitor prognosis.