Clinical feature: 

Definition: Diabetic nephropathy is characterized by progressive renal demage asociated with diabetes.

Pathogenesis: There are different pathophysiologic processes leading to renal demage in diabetes. The classic glomerulosclerosis (Kimmelstiel-Wilson) along with tubulointerstitial processes mainly connected to recurrent infections and vascular demages.The molecular pathophysiologic link from gene to disease is not clear yet. Nevertheless there are different genetic risk factors in discussion.

Diagnostics: 

Strategy: It is useful to define a risk factor at the beginning of a diagnostic process.

Literature: 

Nakajima K et al. (2002) Chemokine receptor genotype is associated with diabetic nephropathy in Japanese with type 2 diabetes.
Sale MM et al. (2006) Genetic determinants of albuminuria and renal disease in diabetes mellitus.