THE PATTERN OF DIABETIC NEPHROPATHY AMONG SAUDI PATIENTS WITH NONINSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES-MELLITUS

There were no studies on the different stages of diabetic nephropathy in Saudi Arabia, particularly the earliest stages. We have therefore i nvestigated the frequency of occurrence of varying degrees of proteinu ria including microalbuminuria in noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellit us (NIDDM) Saudi patients as well as the correlation of varying degree s of proteinuria with other diabetic complications and risk factors. O ne hundred and twenty-five NIDDM patients were studied. Fifty-seven we re males and 68 were females. Their mean age was 49.8 +/- 10 years wit h a mean duration of diabetes of 9.48 +/- 6 years. The mean of HbAlc w as 10.3 +/- 2.6%, serum creatinine was 76.7 +/- 23 mmol/L, creatinine clearance 94.3 mL/min, glomerular filtration rate 129.7 +/- 44 and eff ective renal plasma flow was 496.5 +/- 153. The pattern of proteinuria group was as follows: nephrotic range proteinuria 5.6%, clinical prot einuria 30.4%, microalbuminuria 16.8% Hypertension and retinopathy wer e present in 36.8% and 37% of the patients respectively. A significant correlation was found between the presence of hypertension, duration of diabetes and development of diabetic nephropathy. Similarly, a sign ificant correlation was found between retinopathy and the degree of pr oteinuria. Tn conclusion, the pattern of diabetic nephropathy in the S audi NIDDM patients is similar to that in the Western world. Hypertens ion and duration of diabetes mellitus are important risk factors in th e development of diabetic nephropathy. There is good correlation betwe en retinopathy and the degree of proteinuria.