Abstract
Diabetes mellitus is a disease of dysregulated blood glucose homeostasis. The current pandemic of diabetes is a significant driver of patient morbidity and mortality, as well as a major challenge to healthcare systems worldwide. The global increase in the incidence of diabetes has prompted researchers to focus on the different pathogenic processes responsible for type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Similarly, increased morbidity due to diabetic complications has accelerated research to uncover pathological changes causing these secondary complications. Albuminuria, or protein in the urine, is a well-recognised biomarker and risk factor for renal and cardiovascular disease. Albuminuria is a mediator of pathological abnormalities in diabetes-associated conditions such as nephropathy and atherosclerosis. Clinical screening and diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy is chiefly based on the presence of albuminuria. Given the ease in measuring albuminuria, the potential of using albuminuria as a biomarker of cardiovascular diseases is gaining widespread interest. To assess the benefits of albuminuria as a biomarker, it is important to understand the association between albuminuria and cardiovascular disease. This review examines our current understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms involved in both forms of diabetes, with specific focus on the link between albuminuria and specific vascular complications of diabetes.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Cardiovascular Drugs and Therapy |
Early online date | 17 Jul 2020 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Early online date - 17 Jul 2020 |
Keywords
- Albuminuria
- Atherosclerosis
- Diabetic nephropathy
- Heart failure
- Myocardial infarction
- Peripheral arterial disease
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pharmacology
- Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
- Pharmacology (medical)