High incidence of diabetic nephropathy in non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia

Abstract

The present study was performed to assess the influence of hyperlipidemia on the appearance and development of diabetic nephropathy in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). This was done by comparing the incidence of nephropathy in 35 diabetic patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) with the incidence of nephropathy in 165 patients without FH. There was no significant difference in sex, age, body mass index, or mean duration of diabetes between the two groups. Both groups received similar treatment for diabetes. No significant difference in mean hemoglobin A 1c levels or prevalence of hypertension was noted between the two groups. Total serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels were significantly higher ( P < 0.001) in diabetic patients with FH than in patients without FH. The prevalence of nephropathy was significantly higher in diabetic patients with FH than in patients without FH (51% versus 32%, respectively, P < 0.05). These findings suggest that hyperlipidemia may play a role in the appearance and development of diabetic nephropathy in patients with NIDDM.