Association of serum uric acid with proteinuria in type 2 diabetic patients

BACKGROUND Various findings suggest that uric acid is an inflammatory factor and may have a role in endothelial dysfunction and act as a mediator of diabetic nephropathy. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationships between serum uric acid level and level of proteinuria in type 2 diabetic (T2D) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted in 60 patients with T2D without a history of gout. None was treated with allopurinol. Venous blood samples were obtained in fasting state for determinations of serum creatinine, uric acid, and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) (reference range 3.8-5.5%); 24-h urine proteinuria was also measured. RESULTS Mean age of the patients was 57 ± 8.3 years. Mean ± standard error (SE) of serum creatinine was 0.98 ± 0.028 mg/dL, mean ± SE of serum uric acid was 4.5 ± 0.15 mg/dL, and mean ± SE of proteinuria was 388 ± 28.7 mg/day (median = 303.5 mg/day). There was no significant difference in serum uric acid, HbA1c, and creatinine level between males and females (P > 0.05). There was a significant positive association between body mass index (BMI) and serum uric acid levels (r = 0.428, P = 0.001). After adjustment for weight, a significant positive association of serum uric acid with level of proteinuria was seen (r = 0.47, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION Serum uric acid had a significant positive association with diabetic nephropathy. It might be hypothesized that serum uric acid plays a role in diabetic nephropathy in T2D.