Urine protein excretion among Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Abstract

Urinary excreton of low molecular weight proteins such as beta2-microglobulin and retinol binding protein (RBP), and enzymes such as N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), may be useful as indicators of renal tubular dysfunction in diabetes mellitus. To describe the profile of urinary protein and enzyme excretion in 240 Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Singapore. MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGY: Cross-sectional study of consecutive patients presenting for follow-up at a Government primary care clinic. Information was obtained from interview, physical examination and laboratory analysis. Data analysis included descriptive statistics on urinary protein and enzyme excretion, comparison of unadjusted and adjusted means of these among patient subgroups, as well as correlation with control of diabetes and other clinical parameters. Albuminuria correlated with urine beta2-microglobulin (r=0.34, p