Obesity, metabolic syndrome and diabetic nephropathy

Diabetic nephropathy is becoming an increasingly important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide owing to the increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes, largely driven by increasing obesity. There is considerable evidence that obesity, hypertension and other elements of the metabolic syndrome also contribute to the progression of renal disease independent of diabetes. How they interact and contribute to diabetic nephropathy, however, is not completely understood. Clinical diabetic nephropathy is preceded by an increase in glomerular filtration rate, microalbuminuria and glomerular hypertrophy. Poor glycemic control and elevated systolic blood pressure exacerbate proteinuria and renal injury that may culminate in end-stage renal disease. A similar sequence of events may lead to obesity-related renal disease even in the absence of diabetes. This chapter compares and contrasts factors involved in the development of glomerular hemodynamic and kidney pathological processes associated with diabetes and obesity.