RISK-FACTORS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF DIABETIC NEPHROPATHY - A REVIEW

Recently evidence has accumulated that diabetic nephropathy clusters i n families, both in insulin-dependent( IDDM) and non-insulin-dependent (NIDDM) diabetic patients. Furthermore, hypertension and cardiovascul ar accidents are found more frequently in families of NIDDM with diabe tic nephropathy. Some observations in offspring of NIDDM patients with diabetic nephropathy point to high urinary albumin excretion and slig htly greater blood pressure values, both within the normal range compa red to offspring of patients without diabetic nephropathy. Further fol low-up is required to assess whether these findings are indicative of a possible genetic predisposition to diabetic nephropathy.