Abstract
Changes in the levels of circulating immunoglobulins and production of autoantibodies to basal membrane of renal glomeruli were studied in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) at various stages of diabetic nephropathy (DN). The number of patients with positive reaction to autoantibodies to renal basal membrane (R.BM) increases as clinical symptoms of DN augment. The greater part of patients with positive reaction to antibodies have stage 111-IV DN. Measurements of serum immunoglobulin concentrations in patients with DN of different degree showed maximal levels of IgG in initial IDDM (without DN); later IgG level gradually decreases, while IgM level shows a tendency to increase, this increase attaining statistically significant values in patients with pronounced nephropathy. In patients with antibodies to R.BM the ratios of IgG/IgD and IgM/IgD concentrations are elevated, while IgA/IgG and IgA/IgM ratios are lowered; only the IgG/IgD and IgA/IgG ratios differed significantly from the control. 26.8% patients with IDDM had antibodies to basal membrane of renal glomeruli. The number of patients with positive reaction to these antibodies increases with the progress of nephropathy, which can be indicative of the involvement of autoimmune mechanisms in development and progress of DN.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
