[Anemia in diabetic nephropathy: prevalence, clinical and pathophysiological aspects].

Aim: To investigate detectability of anemia, its clinical and pathophysiological features in patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN).

Material And Methods: The trial included 1020 patients with type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). DN was diagnosed in 50% of them. Incidence of anemia was compared in 92 DN patients in type 1 DM and in 230 patients with chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN). Concentration of erythropoietin (EP) in blood serum was measured in 94 DN patients in type 1 and 2 DM.

Results: Anemia develops in type 1 and 2 DM patients free of DN and unaffected renal filtration function (glomerular filtration rate--GFR > 60 ml/min 1.73 m2) was 23.3 and 18.3%, respectively. In DN patients incidence rate of anemia depended on GFR and increased with growing severity of renal failure reaching 85.7% in GFR < 30 ml/min/1.73 m2. Development of anemia in DN depended also on protein urine excretion (20.0% in normoalbuminuria, 25.7% in microalbuminuria and 48.2% in proteinuria). Anemia in DN was detected more frequently and was more severe (by hemoglobin reduction) than anemia in CGN in equal GFR. At all stages of chronic disease of the kidneys EP secretion was low normal and independent of Hb and GFR.

Conclusion: In DN anemia occurs more often and is more severe than in CGN. Anemia results from inadequate production of EP by the kidneys in response to anemia. Thus, early start of its correction is necessary for improvement of quality of life and inhibition of progression of micro- and macrovascular complications of DM.