The research group of Associate Professor Eiji Ishimura and Dr. Akihiro Tsuda of the Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine has developed formulae for a more accurate estimation of renal function in diabetic nephropathy patients. This will make it possible to come to a more precise assessment of the damage in renal function, a typical complication of diabetes. It may raise the awareness of both patients and health care providers to prevent diabetic nephropathy, and contribute to early detection and treatment.?????
The research was published in the online edition of Diabetes Care, the journal of the American Diabetes Association, on 15 October 2013.

Currently more than 300,000 people in Japan are receiving dialysis treatment. In 37% of those cases the cause is diabetes. The total number of diabetes patients (including people that have not been diagnosed as such, but are suspected to have diabetes) is estimated at more than?22 million people. Early detection and treatment is therefore extremely important.
At the moment, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is used in hospitals to assess renal function, but the numbers that come out in diabetic nephropathy patients show an overestimation of the?actual renal function, making a correct assessment?difficult. If a precise diagnosis is impossible, it may lead to delayed detection or prevention, inadequate prescriptions or examinations and delayed dialysis treatment. Until now it was unclear what caused the inaccurate eGFR numbers in diabetes patients.?

An abstract and the full article is available?online:
Poor glycemic control is a major factor in the overestimation of glomerular filtration rate in diabetic patients

Inquiries regarding research:

Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine
Associate Professor?Eiji Ishimura: ishmed.osaka-cu.ac.jp
Tel: 06-6645-3806