Early Markers of Renal Tubular Damage in Children With Type 1 Diabetes

Abstract

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the most common renal complication of diabetes mellitus and a leading cause of end-stage chronic kidney disease. Renal involvement was thought to occur more than 10 years after onset of diabetes, but recent studies provide evidence that it starts even in the pre-diabetes stage. However, there is no sensitive marker to detect these changes at such early stages. A number of key biomarkers present in the urine have been identified that reflect kidney injury at specific sites along the nephron, including tubular damage.