[Metabolic mechanisms of renal fibrosis: diabetes]

Diabetic nephropathy, a cause for renal fibrosis, results from glomerular haemodynamic abnormalities: intra-glomerular hypertension is provoked by pre-glomerular vasodilatation (a consequence of hyperglycaemia) facing to constitutive, post-glomerular, vascular resistances. Pre-glomerular vasodilatation is due to abnormal glucose metabolism during hyperglycaemia. Studies on pathophysiology, genetics, and treatment of diabetic nephropathy are oriented by these latter two components of risk for renal fibrosis.