Albuminuria and low bone mineral density in paediatric patients with type 1 diabetes

AIM: To evaluate glycaemic control and its influence on albuminuria and bone mineral density (BMD) in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D). METHODS: We collectively assessed 84 T1D children/adolescents (T1D group), aged between 6 and 17 years, and then divided them into two groups according to their glycaemic profile (T1D with good glycaemic control (T1DG group) and T1D with poor glycaemic control (T1DP group)). Serum glucose, glycated haemoglobin, serum urea, serum creatinine, urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR), estimated glomerular filtration rate and BMD levels were assessed. RESULTS: Of the patients studied, 77% presented with poor glycaemic control. Patients with T1DP showed an increased ACR (P < 0.001) and a low BMD (P = 0.025) when compared to the T1DG group. In addition, five patients in the T1DP group presented with concomitant albuminuria and a low BMD for their chronological age. Significant negative correlations were identified between the ACR and glycated haemoglobin (r = 0.655, P < 0.001), BMD and glycated haemoglobin (r = -0.262, P = 0.047) and BMD and the ACR (r = -0.631, P = <0.001). In linear regression analysis, the ACR showed a negative effect on BMD (P = 0.044) in the T1D patient group. CONCLUSION: Poor glycaemic control was correlated with albuminuria, suggestive of a negative effect on bone tissue, leading to a low BMD in children and adolescents with T1D.