Progression of Diabetic Nephropathy in Type 1 Diabetes in Korea

Abstract

Background: Diabetic nephropathy is the main cause of the end-stage renal disease in Korea. This study was performed to evaluate the progression pattern and risk factors of diabetic nephropathy in type 1 diabetes patients.

Methods: Total 64 patients who were registered in Ajou University Hospital since April 1994 till April 2004 were enrolled. We retrospectively analyzed the influence of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, serum creatinine, total cholesterol, albumin, HbA1c and urine albumin excretion on the rate of decline in creatinine clearance (CCr) by Cockcroft- Gault equation.

Results: The patients (27 males/37 females), aged 32.8+/-9.1 (mean+/-SD) years, with a mean duration of diabetes of 9.5+/-4.9 years, were followed more than 6 months. CCr were 113.0+/-20 mL/min/1.73m2 at diagnosis and a mean decrease rate was 3.8+/-3.6 mL/ min/1.73m2/year. Doubling time of serum creatinine was 13.1+/-3.2 year in patients who developed doubling of their creatinine (26.6%). Microalbuminuria and overt proteinuria developed at 8.1+/-2.5 year and at 11.4+/-1.5 year after the diagnosis of type 1 diabetes respectively. A mean decrease rate of CCr was 6.1+/-2.9 mL/min/1.73m2/year in patients who develop ESRD after 14.2+/-2.8 years. During the follow up, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, serum total cholesterol were significantly higher and the mean serum albumin and creatinine clearance were significantly lower in chronic renal failure (CRF) group compared to non-renal failure (non-CRF) group (p< 0.05). There was no significant difference in HbA1c between CRF and non-CRF groups.

Conclusion: The results may suggest that Korean type 1 diabetes patients with diabetic nephropathy in Ajou hospital have a rather faster decline in kidney function compared with other reports. But we need further prospective study to confirm this findings.