Modern methods of diagnosing chronic kidney disease in patients with diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a general concept that involves renal tissue regardless of the aetiology of the leading disease. CKD occurs in one out of every two patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and appreciably limits the duration and quality of life. CKD can be diagnosed by glomerular filtration rate (GFR), which is recognised as the most representative indicator of the quantity and total workload of nephrons. However, the decrease in GFR occurs at an advanced stage of nephropathy and causes irreversible renal damage, which ultimately requires substitutive renal therapy and, thereby, increases the expense. In this regard, clinical trials have been conducted to identify the biomarkers of CKD reflecting renal damage at earlier stages of the disease. This article presents an overview of modern methods for the diagnosis of CKD and preclinical markers of kidney injury in patients with DM.

Keywords

• diabetes mellitus
• diabetic nephropathies
• biomarkers
• glomerular filtration rate