Acute Kidney Injury at the Onset of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: A Balance between Kidney Stress and Nephron Mass.

INTRODUCTION

Uromodulin reflects nephron mass, while urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) indicates kidney injury. We hypothesized that low urinary uromodulin at type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) onset may be linked to acute kidney injury (AKI) and that a higher urinary uromodulin-to-NGAL ratio, reflecting the balance between nephron mass and kidney stress, may reduce the risk of AKI. Our aim was to test these hypotheses.

METHOD

In this prospective study, 75 children (mean age: 8.6 ± 4.3 years) hospitalized for new-onset T1DM were enrolled. AKI was defined as a highest-to-basal serum creatinine ratio ≥1.5. Urinary NGAL and uromodulin levels were measured at admission and upon kidney injury resolution.

RESULTS

Of 75 patients, 33 (44%) had diabetic ketoacidosis (11 severe, 10 moderate, 12 mild) and 33 (44%) developed AKI. At T1DM onset, patients with AKI had similar urinary uromodulin levels but higher urinary NGAL levels, higher uromodulin-to-creatinine ratio, and lower urinary uromodulin-to-NGAL ratio than those without AKI. The uromodulin-to-NGAL ratio correlated inversely with the highest-to-basal creatinine ratio (r = -0.42; p < 0.001), while NGAL correlated positively (r = 0.36; p = 0.001). Both urinary NGAL and the uromodulin-to-NGAL ratio at T1DM onset predicted the absence of AKI, with an areas under the receiver-operating characteristic curve of 0.66 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.54-0.79; p = 0.01) and 0.75 (95% CI: 0.63-0.86; p < 0.001), respectively.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest a potential interplay between nephron mass and kidney stress in AKI development at T1DM onset. While uromodulin levels alone were not associated with AKI, a higher urinary uromodulin-to-NGAL ratio - possibly reflecting better-preserved nephron mass under stress - may be linked to a reduced risk of AKI. Further confirmation is needed.