Prorenin and renal function in NIDDM patients with normo- and microalbuminuria

To assess whether prorenin is elevated and perhaps a predictor of deteriorations in albuminuria and/or renal function in NIDDM patients with normo- and microalbuminuria.

A cross-sectional and a longitudinal study.

Outpatient diabetic clinic.

Twenty-eight NIDDM patients (16 with normoalbuminuria, 12 with microalbuminuric) and 16 healthy subjects, matched for sex, age and BMI. Fifteen patients were reinvestigated after (mean [range]) 3.1 (2.1-4.3) years.

Serum prorenin and renin, urinary albumin excretion rate, and glomerular filtration rate.

Serum prorenin was similar in both normoalbuminuric (116x/divided by) 1.9 microU ml-1 (geometric meanx/divided by antilog SD) and microalbuminuric (124x/divided by) 1.7 microU ml-1) as well as in healthy control subjects (90x/divided by) 1.7 microU ml-1). Prorenin did not correlate to either urinary albumin excretion rate or glomerular filtration rate. No difference between baseline and follow-up levels of albuminuria, glomerular filtration rate or prorenin were observed. The annual changes in albuminuria, glomerular filtration rate and prorenin were not correlated, and no correlation was found between baseline prorenin levels and annual changes in albuminuria or glomerular filtration rate.

Serum prorenin levels are not elevated in either normoalbuminuric or microalbuminuric NIDDM patients, and serum prorenin is not a valid predictor of long-term changes in albuminuria in this patient group.