Diagnosis and test for diabetic kidney disease

Kang, Young Sun; Cha, Dae Ryong

Abstract

Diabetic kidney disease, as one of the important diabetic complication, developed in 20% to 40% of patients with diabetes and is now the most common cause of end-stage renal disease. Although it has been recommended that annual screening of renal function including microalbuminuria in diabetic patients, many patients are currently under-diagnosed state. Early recognition of diabetic renal complication has a pivotal role in the management of diabetic patients for improvement of patient's prognosis. The detection of microalbuminuria is particularly important as a marker of early diabetic kidney disease, and is related with an elevated cardiovascular complications. Like other chronic renal disease, diabetic kidney disease has characteristic to show a progressive decline in renal function, but significantly increased cardiovascular mortality even in the early stage of diabetic kidney disease. Therefore, more aggressive trials for detection of the presence of diabetic kidney disease and comorbid cardiovascular disease and management for cardiovascular risk factor reduction and adequate therapeutic intervention for slowing the progression of renal disease is essential to proper management for patients with diabetic kidney disease.