Vol 10, Issue 11, 2017
Online - 2455-3891
Print - 0974-2441
DIABETIC NEPHROPATHY AN OBVIOUS COMPLICATION IN LONG TERM TYPE 1 DIABETES
MELLITUS: A CASE STUDY
JAHIDUL ISLAM MOHAMMAD
1
*, SRIDEVI CHIGURUPATI
2
*, AZLI SHAHRIL OTHMAN
1
,
MUHAMMAD ZAHID IQBAL
3
1
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Cyberjaya University College of Medical Sciences, CUCMS, Cyberjaya, Malaysia.
2
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, AIMST University, Semeling, Bedong, Kedah, Malaysia.
3
Department of
Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, AIMST University, Semeling, Bedong, Kedah, Malaysia.
Email: dr.jahid1980@gmail.com
Received: 14 June 2017, Revised and Accepted: 07 August 2017
ABSTRACT
Most overwhelming complications of Type 1 diabetes mellitus patients are responsible for complications related to the microvascular system most
likely with kidney. In the kidney, hyperglycemia induced microangiopathy resulting not only thickening of the glomerular capillary basement membrane
but also to the proliferation of the mesangial matrix and solidifying of the tubular basement membrane. Several biochemical and pathological, factors
are concerned for the development of diabetic renal microangiopathy. These include the glomerular hyperperfusion and hyperfiltration, transformed
morphology of podocytes accompanies these basement membrane modifications, Type IV collagen augmented synthesis following the hyperglycemia,
and increased expression of tissue matrix metalloproteinase. The aim of this case review is to highlight the recent advances in understanding the
pathogenesis, diagnosis, the overview and the potential renoprotective therapeutic agents that would prevent the development or the progression of
diabetic nephropathy.
Keywords: Type 1 diabetesmellitus, Albuminuria, Diabetic nephropathy.
INTRODUCTION
Diabetic nephropathy (DN) signifies one of the utmost common
microvascular problems of Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) with an
increasing frequency worldwide [1]. Which is well-defined as the
presence of trace albuminuria followed by a diminished glomerular
filtration rate (GFR) [2]. This signifies the inability of kidneys to prevent
urinary protein leakage characterizes a significant primary sign of renal
impairment in patients with T1DM [3]. One-third of T1DM patient’s
progress to DN, on the other hand, this incidence is much lower
with T1DM [4]. The most common complications of diabetes include
macrovascular and microvascular events likewise-retinopathy induced
blindness, heart attack, kidney failure, stroke, and leg amputation
[5]. At present antidiabetic drugs are effective but implies very cost
burden to the family. Moreover, a lot of cofactors such as patient
devotion, education interrelated to diabetes, lifestyle modification, and
associated comorbid diseases has an association with glycemic control
[6]. The hall mark characteristics of DN is accompanied by numerous
histological and functional anomalies, which includes loss of podocyte,
thickening of glomerular basement membrane mesangial growth due
to increased density of mesangial matrix and hypertrophy of mesangial
cells (MCs) and hemodynamic changes in the initiation and progression
of diabetic glomerulosclerosis, which resulting interruption and
crumbling of the normal glomerular architecture which resulting
microaneurysm formation [7]. American Diabetes Association
characterized DN based on the extent of albuminuria and GFR. Renal
hyperfunction and hypertrophy are categorized by the earliest stage
(Stage 1) of DN. In the course of time and with the coexistence of risk
factor such as uncontrolled hypertension, and persistent increase in
urine albumin excretion (UAE) develops. This stage is called incipient
nephropathy (Stage 3) characterized by GFR 30-59 ml/min/1.73 m
2
,
UAE>30 mg/day, >20 µg/min, or urine albumin to creatinine ratio (ACR)
> 33 mg/g of creatinine. Stage 4 or overt nephropathy (renal failure)
characterized as GFR shows a consistent decline (15-29 ml/min/1.73
m
2
) that becomes distinct with the continuous increase of UAE above
300 mg/day, 200 µg/min, or when urine ACR exceeds 300 mg/g. Stage 5
renal failure or end-stage renal disease signify constant increase of UAE
above 300 mg/day and GFR below 15 ml/min/1.73 m
2
[8-10].
CASE REPORT
A 37-year-old woman is brought to the emergency department of a
hospital with the complaints of unintentional weight loss, confused
mental status, and dyspnea since last night. According to the patient,
she is a known case of T1DM since her age is 8. It was treated with
insulin lispro since diagnosis. Her family transfers to a new place
and started an irregular follow-up in the diabetic outpatient care
unit. The patient noticed that recently she has lost 5 kg body weight
without dieting and has been complaining of fatigue for 2 or 3 weeks.
She appeared confused, forgetfulness, carelessness in dress and daily
hygiene for the last 3 days. She also observed that her daughter is
dyspneic during walking around the house, washing, dressing, and
even during eating since last night. 6 months before the admission, the
patient also noticed swelling of the face and legs which are associated
with scanty micturition during daytime and frequently at night, which
disturbs her sleep. For the last 1 month, she noticed gradual swelling of
whole body and puffiness of the face, which is more marked after getting
up from sleep in the morning. She is hypertensive for past 5 years but
no history of allergy or bronchial asthma. She is under medication
with insulin lispro and tablet losartan. Her parents are suffering from
hypertension with dyslipidemia. However, they denied about diabetes
or bronchial asthma. She was experiencing severe emotional trauma
because of sudden loss of her 5 years old younger brother. There is no
history of fever, abdominal pain, loin pain, itching, joint pain, skin rash,
or hematuria.
On general examination, the patient is ill looking and pale, with puffy
face and baggy eyelids, moderately anemic, pitting edema-present, she
appears dehydrated with a dry tongue, loss of skin turgor, no clubbing,
jaundice, cyanosis or koilonychia, no lymphadenopathy or thyromegaly,
© 2017 The Authors. Published by Innovare Academic Sciences Pvt Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.
org/licenses/by/4. 0/) DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.22159/ajpcr.2017.v10i11.20699
Case Report