In order to investigate the relationship between urinary excretion of sialic acid and the severity of diabetic microangiopathy, urinary levels of sialic acid were determined in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The urinary molar ratio of sialic acid to creatinine in the diabetic patients was significantly higher than in the healthy controls (p < 0.01). Moreover, the urinary ratio was found to be gradually increased with the degree of diabetic microangiopathy. Urine molar ratio of sialic acid to creatinine in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy was significantly higher than in patients without retinopathy (p < 0.01). Urinary excretion in patients with macroproteinuria was also significantly higher than in patients without nephropathy (p < 0.01). Since urinary levels of sialic acid are proportionally increased with the severity of diabetic microangiopathy, the measurement of urinary sialic acid could become a useful biochemical means to monitor the degree of diabetic microangiopathy.
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