title: Association between serum ferritin and microalbuminuria in Type 2 diabetes in Taiwan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Serum ferritin has been found closely related with diabetes and glucose metabolism, but its impact on diabetic nephropathy remains unknown. This study aimed to explore the association between serum ferritin and microalbuminuria in Type 2 diabetes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight hundred and fifty-one subjects with Type 2 diabetes were selected from a cohort participating in a glycaemic control study in Taiwan in 2008. We used urine albumin:creatinine ratio to define microalbuminuria; serum ferritin was divided into quartiles for analysis. Logistic regression and trend tests were used to delineate the association between serum ferritin and microalbuminuria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subjects with diabetes with higher ferritin tended to have more metabolic disorders, higher high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and higher prevalence of microalbuminuria. Compared with those in the lowest quartile, subjects with diabetes in the highest ferritin quartile were 55% (P = 0.029) more likely to have microalbuminuria. After controlling for demographics, metabolic profiles and other inflammatory markers, the association between serum ferritin levels and microalbuminuria remained significant (P for trend < 0.001). This independent relationship was not changed either for those who had better glycaemic control or those who had not used an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current study shows hyperferritinemia may be an independent risk factor of nephropathy in patients with Type 2 diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Ditmanson Medical Foundation Chia-Yi Christian Hospital, Chia-Yi; Department of Health Services Administration, China Medical University, Taichung; Department of Nursing, Min-Hwei College of Health Care Management, Tainan.
authors.forename: Y H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: H Y
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Wahlqvist
authors.forename: Y L
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Hsu
mesh_terms: D000419:Albuminuria / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000652:urine; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D013624:Taiwan
chemical_list: D005293:Ferritins