Smoking as the potential link between Kimmelstiel-Wilson lesion and non-diabetic nodular glomerulosclerosis in male patients - a single center retrospective study.

Background: The histological pattern of nodular glomerulosclerosis (NGS) can be found both in diabetic nephropathy (Kimmelstiel-Wilson (KW) lesion) and non-diabetic nodular glomerulosclerosis (non-diab NGS). Chronic smoking is considered to be a potential cause of non-diab NGS, but the prevalence of smokers in KW is unknown.

Methods: In a retrospective analysis, native renal biopsy specimens (n = 644, 2001 - 2011) were evaluated and male patients' characteristics, including smoking habits, were assessed within three groups: diabetic patients with KW (n = 15), diabetic patients with other classes of diabetic nephropathy (non-KW; n = 46), and patients with non-diab NGS (n = 7).