Microscopic Hematuria and Diabetic Glomerulosclerosis – Clinicopathological Analysis of Type 2 Diabetic Patients Associated with Overt Proteinuria

<i>Background/Aims:</i> The information available concerning the qualitative and quantitative clinical variables in cases with pathologically defined diabetic glomerulosclerosis (DGs) has been insufficient so far. In addition, the prevalence and composition of nondiabetic renal disease (NDRD) among proteinuric diabetics still remain to be delineated. <i>Methods:</i> The glomerular pathology, clinical correlates, and the prevalence of NDRD were retrospectively analyzed in 50 type 2 proteinuric diabetics who underwent a renal biopsy between 1990 and 2006. The patients were divided into two groups according to clinical and pathological features. Thereafter, the diagnostic contribution of the laboratory and clinical variables that were significant between the two groups were determined by logistic regression analysis. <i>Results:</i> There were 34 cases with pure DGs and 15 cases (30%) had NDRD with or without DGs. Although the difference in the prevalence of microscopic hematuria between these two groups was significant, it was no longer statistically significant when the patients were limited to nephrotic cases. We identified 14 hematuric cases with pathologically defined DGs, and they all had a significantly lower renal function than nonhematuric patients with DGs. The prevalence of nephrotic syndrome and retinopathy were significantly higher in the cases with hematuric DGs than in the cases with nonhematuric DGs. Based on a logistic regression analysis, the presence of nephrotic syndrome and known duration of diabetes were identified to be significant predictors for hematuria with DGs. <i>Conclusions:</i> Our observations suggest that the presence of hematuria may be a common feature for DGs with nephrotic syndrome.