BACKGROUNDRecently, some studies had shown that elevated serum uric acid (SUA) itself may increase the risk for development of renal disease in patients with diabetes. This study aimed to explore whether SUA was a predictor of microalbuminuria and impaired renal function in type 2 diabetes in Chinese patients.

METHODSThis cross-sectional study included 2108 type 2 diabetic patients. Kidney function was estimated using the simplified modification of diet in renal disease (MDRD) equation to obtain estimated glomerular filtration rate. The urine samples were obtained for measuring the albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR).

RESULTSAccording to the ACR level, these patients were divided into two groups, normal ACR (NA) and non-normal ACR (non-NA). Both SUA and creatinine were significantly higher in the non-NA group than those in the NA group ((318.89 ± 107.52) vs. (283.44 ± 88.64) µmol/L, and (95.08 ± 53.24) vs. (79.63 ± 18.20) µmol/L, respectively). Logistic regression analysis showed that diabetic duration, systolic blood pressure, creatinine and SUA were the independent predictors of albuminuria. Furthermore, to identify the factors associated with renal function, these patients were divided into two groups according to the MDRD level (MDRD < 90 or MDRD ≥ 90). Both SUA and creatinine were significantly higher in the lower MDRD group than those in the higher MDRD group ((301.90 ± 96.46) vs. (264.07 ± 84.74) µmol/L, and (89.10 ± 31.00) vs. (66.37 ± 11.15) µmol/L, respectively). Logistic regression analysis showed that only age and SUA were the independent predictors of MDRD.

CONCLUSIONHigh-normal SUA was associated with albuminuria and impaired glomerular filtration rate in Chinese type 2 diabetic patients.