BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study is to determine whether low-density lipoprotein (LDL) apheresis affects proteinuria and urinary podocyte excretion in patients with type 2 diabetes and nephrotic syndrome. METHODS: LDL apheresis was performed on patients with diabetes with long-standing nephrotic syndrome, and urinary protein level and number of urinary podocytes were compared between these patients (5 men, 3 women; mean age, 54.6 years) and 10 nephrotic patients with diabetes not treated with LDL apheresis (6 men, 4 women; mean age, 56.5 years). RESULTS: LDL apheresis reduced total cholesterol (P < 0.001), LDL cholesterol ( P < 0.001), lipoprotein(a) (P < 0.001), creatinine (P < 0.05), and blood urea nitrogen (P < 0.05) levels and increased creatinine clearance (P < 0.05). The LDL apheresis group showed a significant decrease in urinary protein excretion (from 10.8 +/- 3.2 to 1.8 +/- 1.1 g/d; P < 0.001) and number of urinary podocytes (from 4.8 +/- 2.2 to 0.9 +/- 0.4 cells/mL; P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: These data suggest that LDL apheresis effectively reduces proteinuria and podocyte excretion, ameliorating renal dysfunction in patients with nephrotic syndrome caused by diabetic nephropathy.
BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study is to determine whether low-density lipoprotein (LDL) apheresis affects proteinuria and urinary podocyte excretion in patients with type 2 diabetes and nephrotic syndrome. METHODS: LDL apheresis was performed on patients with diabetes with long-standing nephrotic syndrome, and urinary protein level and number of urinary podocytes were compared between these patients (5 men, 3 women; mean age, 54.6 years) and 10 nephroticpatients with diabetes not treated with LDL apheresis (6 men, 4 women; mean age, 56.5 years). RESULTS: LDL apheresis reduced total cholesterol (P < 0.001), LDL cholesterol ( P < 0.001), lipoprotein(a) (P < 0.001), creatinine (P < 0.05), and blood ureanitrogen (P < 0.05) levels and increased creatinine clearance (P < 0.05). The LDL apheresis group showed a significant decrease in urinary protein excretion (from 10.8 +/- 3.2 to 1.8 +/- 1.1 g/d; P < 0.001) and number of urinary podocytes (from 4.8 +/- 2.2 to 0.9 +/- 0.4 cells/mL; P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: These data suggest that LDL apheresis effectively reduces proteinuria and podocyte excretion, ameliorating renal dysfunction in patients with nephrotic syndrome caused by diabetic nephropathy.