Urinary heparan sulphate proteoglycan excretion is abnormal in insulin dependent diabetes.

Urinary excretion of heparan sulphate proteoglycan (HSPG), the main anionic component of the glomerular basement membrane (GBM), was estimated in 30 adolescents and young adults with insulin dependent diabetes (IDDM), 10 with microalbuminuria and 20 sex matched, diabetic controls of similar age without evidence of microalbuminuria. A further 10 non-diabetic control subjects were also examined. Both groups of patients with diabetes had significantly elevated excretion of HSPG when compared to normal individuals. There was no difference in HSPG excretion between diabetic subjects with and without microalbuminuria.