Early signs of diabetic nephropathy and ultrasound characteristics of kidneys in children and youth with diabetes mellitus type 1

Abstract

Introduction: Diabetic nephropathy is a chronic complication in patients with diabetes mellitus typ 1, which leads to kidney disfunction.Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the metabolic control and albuminuria with ultrasound findings of morphometric measurements and registration Doppler signals of kidneys between children and youth with diabetes mellitus type 1 according to the duration of illness. Material and Methods:The retrospective-prospective study included 69 patients of both genders, that got diabetes mellitus type 1 when they were in the age from 2. to 25. years. Patients were divided into two groups according to the length of diabetes mellitus type 1: the first group was those whose illness had lasted for more than 10 years, and second group with duration of diabetes mellitus typ 1 less than 10 years.Results: No significant difference was registered between the groups regarding frequency of albuminuria, but the chance of it occurring are greater in patients with longer duration of diabetes mellitus type 1. Patients with albuminuria and diabetes mellitus type 1 duration over 10 years had higher glycated hemoglobin A1C, blood pressure, body mass index followed by enlarged volume of both kidneys. Patients with albuminuria and diabetes mellitus type 1 for less than 10 years had a higher creatinine clearance.Conclusion: Ultrasound dimensions and volume of the kidneys in patients with metabolic control parameters are useful for monitoring especially in the early stages of diabetic nephropathy.