title: Diabetic kidney disease.
abstract: The kidney is arguably the most important target of microvascular damage in diabetes. A substantial proportion of individuals with diabetes will develop kidney disease owing to their disease and/or other co-morbidity, including hypertension and ageing-related nephron loss. The presence and severity of chronic kidney disease (CKD) identify individuals who are at increased risk of adverse health outcomes and premature mortality. Consequently, preventing and managing CKD in patients with diabetes is now a key aim of their overall management. Intensive management of patients with diabetes includes controlling blood glucose levels and blood pressure as well as blockade of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system; these approaches will reduce the incidence of diabetic kidney disease and slow its progression. Indeed, the major decline in the incidence of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) over the past 30 years and improved patient prognosis are largely attributable to improved diabetes care. However, there remains an unmet need for innovative treatment strategies to prevent, arrest, treat and reverse DKD. In this Primer, we summarize what is now known about the molecular pathogenesis of CKD in patients with diabetes and the key pathways and targets implicated in its progression. In addition, we discuss the current evidence for the prevention and management of DKD as well as the many controversies. Finally, we explore the opportunities to develop new interventions through urgently needed investment in dedicated and focused research. For an illustrated summary of this Primer, visit: http://go.nature.com/NKHDzg.
authors.affiliation: Baker IDI Heart &Diabetes Institute, 75 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia.
authors.forename: Merlin C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.affiliation: Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brownlee
authors.affiliation: Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Katalin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Susztak
authors.affiliation: Center for Renal Translational Medicine, University of California, San Diego, California, USA.
authors.forename: Kumar
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Baker IDI Heart &Diabetes Institute, 75 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia.
authors.forename: Karin A M
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Jandeleit-Dahm
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Preventative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing &Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Sophia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zoungas
authors.affiliation: Steno Diabetes Center, Gentofte, Denmark.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rossing
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Per-Henrik
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Groop
authors.affiliation: Baker IDI Heart &Diabetes Institute, 75 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia.
authors.forename: Mark E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Cooper
mesh_terms: D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001794:Blood Pressure; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000628:therapy; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D019468:Disease Management; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000209:etiology; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose