Comportamiento de algunas variables clínicas en pacientes con nefropatía diabética

Introduction : diabetic nephropathy is a microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus expressing the structural and functional impairment of the glomerular apparatus as a result of metabolic disorder of the disease; it is the presence of persistent albuminuria (equal or greater than 300 mg/24 h, or equal or greater than 200 μg/min) with diabetic retinopathy and within other kidney or urinary tract disease. Objective : to describe the behavior of some clinical variables in patients with diabetic nephropathy. Method : a descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out on type 2 diabetic population, belonging to six doctors’ offices of the Teaching Polyclinic "Juan Olimpio Valcarcel" of Venezuela municipality. The universe was composed of 72 patients suffering of type 2 diabetes mellitus; the sample consisted of 50 diabetic patients over 18 years. Results : patients were predominantly female, white skin and more than 60 years. The disease had a period of evolution of less than five years and nearly a third of the sample showed signs of diabetic nephropathy stage III; all patients suffered metabolic disorder and had several associated risk factors; diabetic retinopathy and neuropathy were the most common chronic vascular complications. Conclusions : for effective approach of diabetic nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus are indispensable requirements an early diagnosis and the development of educational work leading patients to modify risk factors affecting the deterioration of the renal function.