Abstract
Background:Diagnosing diabetic nephropathy is important to prevent long-term kidney damage and determine the prognosis of patients with diabetes. Since some kidney injury biomarkers increase in the early stages of diabetic nephropathy, this study investigated the clinical significance of combined detection of urine orosomucoid and retinol binding protein for early diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy.Methods:We recruited 72 patients with type 2 diabetes and 34 healthy persons from August 2016 to July 2018 at our hospital. Using Mogensen grading criteria, participants were classified as diabetes or diabetic nephropathy, and healthy persons constituted the control group. Urine orosomucoid and retinol binding protein were measured and correlated with other variables.Results:Increase in renal damage raised urinary orosomucoid level gradually (P < 0.05). Urinary retinol binding protein and microalbumin levels were significantly higher in the diabetes group than in control and nephropathy groups. Orosomucoid and retinol binding protein might be independent risk factors for diabetes and diabetic nephropathy. Urinary orosomucoid significantly correlated with retinol binding protein and microalbumin (r = 0.489 and 0.513, respectively) in the diabetic nephropathy group. The receiver operating characteristic curve yielded a sensitivity, specificity, and correction index of 0.941, 0.842, and 0.783, respectively, while analysis for retinol binding protein yielded a sensitivity of 0.942, specificity of 1.000, and a correction index of 0.941.Conclusion:The increase in the levels of urine orosomucoid and retinol binding protein can be detected in the early stages of type 2 diabetic nephropathy. Both these markers are important for diabetic nephropathy detection and early treatment.