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World J Diabetes. Dec 15, 2014; 5(6): 763-776
Published online Dec 15, 2014. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v5.i6.763
Published online Dec 15, 2014. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v5.i6.763
Biomarkers in diabetic nephropathy: Present and future
Gemma Currie, Christian Delles, Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, G12 8TA Glasgow, United Kingdom
Gerard McKay, School of Medicine, University of Glasgow, G12 8TA Glasgow, United Kingdom
Gerard McKay, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, G4 0SF Glasgow, United Kingdom
Author contributions: Currie G, McKay G and Delles C equally contributed to this paper.
Correspondence to: Dr. Gemma Currie, Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, 126 University Place, G12 8TA Glasgow, United Kingdom. gemma.currie@glasgow.ac.uk
Telephone: +44-141-3305189
Received: August 25, 2014
Revised: October 3, 2014
Accepted: October 23, 2014
Published online: December 15, 2014
Revised: October 3, 2014
Accepted: October 23, 2014
Published online: December 15, 2014
Core Tip
Core tip: Microalbuminuria (MA) is the earliest and most commonly used clinical index of diabetic nephropathy (DN), however its sensitivity and specificity for early disease detection are limited. Not all patients with MA progress to overt DN, nonalbuminuric DN is common and risk associated with MA is elevated even at levels below currently accepted diagnostic thresholds. There is therefore a need for alternative biomarkers allowing early identification of “at risk” individuals. This review focusses on biomarkers of glomerular and tubular dysfunction, oxidative stress and inflammation that have attracted interest. In addition we review more novel strategies including proteomic, metabolomic and genomic approaches.