title: Urinary Biomarkers in the Assessment of Early Diabetic Nephropathy.
abstract: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a frequent and severe complication of diabetes mellitus (DM). Its diagnosis in incipient stages may allow prompt interventions and an improved prognosis. Towards this aim, biomarkers for detecting early DN can be used. Microalbuminuria has been proven a remarkably useful biomarker, being used for diagnosis of DN, for assessing its associated condition-mainly cardiovascular ones-and for monitoring its progression. New researches are pointing that some of these biomarkers (i.e., glomerular, tubular, inflammation markers, and biomarkers of oxidative stress) precede albuminuria in some patients. However, their usefulness is widely debated in the literature and has not yet led to the validation of a new "gold standard" biomarker for the early diagnosis of DN. Currently, microalbuminuria is an important biomarker for both glomerular and tubular injury. Other glomerular biomarkers (transferrin and ceruloplasmin) are under evaluation. Tubular biomarkers in DN seem to be of a paramount importance in the early diagnosis of DN since tubular lesions occur early. Additionally, biomarkers of inflammation, oxidative stress, podocyte biomarkers, and vascular biomarkers have been employed for assessing early DN. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the current biomarkers used for the diagnosis of early DN.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "V. Babes", 300041 Timisoara, Romania.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6162-5325
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gluhovschi
authors.affiliation: Romanian Academy of Medical Sciences, 300041 Timisoara, Romania.
authors.forename: Gheorghe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gluhovschi
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "V. Babes", 300041 Timisoara, Romania.
authors.forename: Ligia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Petrica
authors.affiliation: Department of Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "V. Babes", 300041 Timisoara, Romania.
authors.forename: Romulus
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Timar
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "V. Babes", 300041 Timisoara, Romania.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Velciov
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "V. Babes", 300041 Timisoara, Romania.
authors.forename: Ioana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ionita
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "V. Babes", 300041 Timisoara, Romania.
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kaycsa
authors.affiliation: Department of Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "V. Babes", 300041 Timisoara, Romania.
authors.forename: Bogdan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Timar
mesh_terms: D000419:Albuminuria / Q000652:urine*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine*; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000652:urine*; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers