Is the Renal Uptake of 99mTc-DMSA Decreased in Microalbuminuric Diabetic Patient?

Kim, Seong Jang; Kim, In Ju; Kim, Yong Ki

Abstract

PURPOSE: Diabetic nephropathy is the most common cause of end stage renal disease and the incidence is progressively increasing. The aim of this study was to investigate the differences of 99mTc-DMSA renal uptake among diabetic patients with normoalbuminuria, microalbuminuria and overt proteinuria, and then to determine the clinical usefulness of 99mTc-DMSA in predicting early diabetic nephropathy.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
99mTc-DMSA scan was performed and a total renal uptake of 99mTc-DMSA was measured in 145 diabetic patients. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to the amount of 24 hour urinary albumin excretion as Group I (normoalbuminuria, 74 cases), Group II (microalbuminuria, 39 cases), and Group III (overt proteinuria, 32 cases). The differences of 99mTc-DMSA renal uptake among the 3 groups and the correlation between the renal uptake of 99mTc-DMSA and other clinical parameters were analyzed.
RESULTS
The total renal uptake of 99mTc-DMSA of Group II (40.8+/-11.0%) was significantly lower than that of Group I (54.4+/-6.3%, p<0.001). The uptake of Group III (27.7+/-12.0%) was significantly lower than those of both GroupI and Group II (p<0.001). 99mTc-DMSA total renal uptakes correlated negatively with serum creatinine level (r=-0.629, p<0.001) and positively correlated with creatinine clearance rate (r=0.702, p<0.001).
CONCLUSION
99mTc-DMSA total renal uptake of diabetic patients with microalbuminuria was significantly decreased compared with that of patients of normoalbuminuria. Therefore, 99mTc-DMSA scan can be used as a diagnostic study for early detection of the diabetic nephropathy.