Glomerular basement membrane changes, HbAIc and urinary excretion of acid glycosaminoglycans in children with diabetes mellitus.

Glomerular basement membrane antigens excreted into urine, urinary acid glycosaminoglycans and hemoglobin AIc plasma levels were estimated in 18 diabetic children. In comparison to controls we detected significant differences, in that diabetics with changed (alpha-1-) mobility on immunoelectrophoresis revealed increased urinary acid glycosaminoglycan excretion (p less than 0.01) and elevated HbAIc concentrations in plasma (p less than 0.01). HbAIc levels and urinary glycosaminoglycans correlated significantly (r = 0.7, p less than 0.001). Increased glycosaminoglycans as well as increased blood glucose reflected by elevated HbAIc could lead to the biochemical glomerular basement membrane changes found on immunoelectrophoresis. The results suggest a metabolic hypothesis for the development of diabetic glomerulopathy.