BIOCHEMICAL MARKERS OF DIABETIC MICROANGIOPATHY - PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

The first signs of diabetic microvascular complications in the eyes an d kidney, and early signs of neuropathy, may develop in children and a dolescents. The development and progression of such complications are clearly related to blood glucose control. The mechanisms by which micr oangiopathy develops are not exactly known, and there are no excellent biochemical markers with high predictive value for future microangiop athy. The best available markers today are HbAlc and the urinary album in excretion. New biochemical markers related to advanced glycation en d products (AGEs), and recently possible genetic markers, have been de scribed. The predictive value of single markers and the combination of such markers has to be tested in long term clinical studies.