Posted on 08/06/2025 9:02:46 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
Kidney complications in diabetes often progress silently, putting patients at risk of life-threatening outcomes long before any symptoms appear.
A new study offers a promising solution. Researchers found that two simple blood markers—estimated glomerular filtration rate difference (eGFRdiff) and growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) levels—can independently predict kidney disease progression and mortality in people with diabetes.
"Currently, eGFR and urinary albumin, which are commonly used in routine clinical practice, are not sufficient to accurately predict kidney outcomes in individuals with diabetes," says Dr. Gohda.
The research team analyzed data from 638 Japanese adults living with diabetes mellitus. Participants were observed for a period of more than 5 years, during which 11.8% experienced significant kidney function decline and 6.9% died from various causes.
Blood samples were used to calculate eGFRdiff, a measure that reflects differences between cystatin C- and creatinine-based kidney function estimates, and to determine serum levels of GDF-15, a protein increasingly recognized as a marker of inflammation and frailty.
The analysis revealed a powerful link: patients with lower eGFRdiff values faced a dramatically higher risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression, while those with elevated GDF-15 levels were at higher risk of increased mortality. Specifically, every 10-unit increase in eGFRdiff reduced the risk of CKD progression by 33%, while higher GDF-15 levels were strongly linked to an increased risk of death by 235%.
"eGFRdiff may contribute to early risk stratification in diabetic kidney disease," explains Dr. Gohda.
Importantly, this research demonstrated that these two markers provide complementary insights. eGFRdiff, which can reflect muscle mass loss and metabolic changes, was more strongly associated with kidney disease progression. GDF-15, a stress-responsive cytokine linked to inflammation, better predicted mortality risk. This distinction suggests that using the two markers together could enhance precision in identifying which patients are most vulnerable to serious complications.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.