ObjectiveTo investigate the correlation between urine albumin-creatinine ratio(ACR), and serum cystatin C(Cys-C) and serum β₂-microglobulin(β₂-MG) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

MethodsA total of 530 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were divided into the normal albuminuria group(NA group, 361 cases with ACR < 30 mg/g), microalbuminuria group(MA group, 118 cases with 30 mg/g ≤ ACR < 300 mg/g) and large albuminuria group(LA group, 51 cases with ACR ≥ 300 mg/g) according to the ACR level.The body mass index(BMI), blood urea nitrogen(BUN), serum creatinine(Scr), Cys-C, β₂-MG, fasting plasma glucose(FPG) and glycosylated hemoglobin(HbA1c) were compared among three groups, and the correlation between Cys-C, β₂-MG and urine ACR was analyzed.

ResultsThe differences of the gender, BMI and FPG among the NA, MA and LA groups were not statistically significant(P>0.05).The level of HbA1c in MA group was higher than that in NA group(P < 0.01).The levels of BUN and Scr in LA group were higher than those in NA group and MA group(P < 0.01).The levels of Cys-c and β₂-MG in NA group, MA group and LA group gradually increased(P < 0.05 to P < 0.01).The results of Pearson correlation analysis showed that the serum levels of Cys-C and β₂-MG were positively correlated with urine ACR(r=0.402 and r=0.624, P < 0.01).

ConclusionsWith the aggravation of renal function damage, the serum levels Cys-C and β₂-MG in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients gradually increase, which has good correlation with urine ACR, so it is of great significance in the early diagnosis, treatment and condition monitoring of diabetic ridney disease.