Serum Fructosamine as a Marker for Glycemic Control in Patients with Diabetic Nephropathy

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease of chronic insulin deficiency or resistance. The progression of DM is associated with long-term damage to macro- and micro-vascular body systems and causes serious health complications. Up to 40% of DM patients develop chronic kidney disease (CKD), mainly as a consequence of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Hence, strict glycemic control is recommended to slow down CKD progression. Hyperglycemia causes complications in diabetic patients through the glycation of various proteins. The interaction of glucose with the free NH₂ groups of proteins results in the formation of the early glycation product fructosamine (FA). FA has a short half-life (1 to 2 weeks) and hence it has the potential of an early marker for glycemic control. Although long used in the clinical practice, the FA diagnostic and prognostic significance remains questionable. In this study, we tested the FA potential to serve as a glycemic marker in DM patients with DN. We found that DM patients have significantly higher serum FA levels than non-diabetics. Further, the serum FA level in diabetics correlates positively with the blood glucose concentration. Finally, the mean serum FA level was higher in DM patients with DN, compared to those without DN. These results establish FA as a promising marker for glycemic control in DN patients.