[Current issues in the diagnosis and therapy of diabetic nephropathy]

Diabetic nephropathy is one of the most frequent causes of chronic renal failure worldwide. Altogether, 35% of patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and a somewhat smaller percentage of patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus ultimately develop diabetic kidney disease. Early diagnosis is of utmost importance since the development of diabetic nephropathy affects the general health, the carbohydrate metabolism of the patient, moreover it aggravates hypertension and accelerates atherosclerosis. Microalbuminuria is a sensitive but relatively late marker of diabetic kidney disease. Still, screening of diabetic patients for microalbuminuria is of great importance since there is no other screening test capable of diagnosing diabetic nephropathy at an earlier stage. The description of the genetic substrate of susceptibility to diabetic kidney disease would revolutionize the diagnosis and prevention of diabetic nephropathy. Until then, compliance with therapeutic guidelines outlined in milestone clinical studies of the last years may significantly decrease morbidity, the progression of, and the mortality associated with diabetic kidney disease.