Evaluating the relation between diabetic nephropathy and urinary Copper level

Diabetes is the most important metabolic disease in human. The prevalence of both types of diabetes is rapidly increasing ocross the world. Diabetes causes many complications including End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). Diabetes is responsible for 30% of ESRD. The prevalence of diabetic nephropathy in Iran is also high. Many of these patients are becoming dialysis dependent. Many studies have shown the changes of trace metals’ levels in diabetic patients including Copper, Zinc, Manganese and Chromium. This study evaluates the correlation between urinary Copper and diabetic nephropathy This is a case-control study. Samples were selected among type 2 diabetic patients attending to diabetes clinic in Vali-e-Asr hospital in Arak. Diabetic patients were divided in two groups based on microalbuminuria, 42 patients in case and 40 patients in control group. Then the patients were classified based on duration of diabetes into 4 groups and based on the HbA1c into two groups. Then urinary Copper was determined with atomic absorption spectophotometry and compared. Independent t-test was used to analyze data. Patients were 28.1% male and 69.9% female in case group and 37.5% male and 62.5% female in control group. The mean Copper level was 36.14µg /L (14.54-57.74) in case group and 14.77% µg /L (10.17-19.37) in control group. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (p=0.003). The results show a positive relation between urinary Copper and diabetic nephropathy and confirmed the results of other studies that reported the elevation of Copper in microalbuminuria. This study also showed that age, gender, duration of diabetes and HbA1c level have no effect on urinary Copper.