Higher Procalcitonin Level in Diabetic Nephropathy Patients Compared with Healthy Volunteers

Objective To investigate the difference of procalcitonin (PCT) level between uninfected diabetic nephropathy patients and healthy volunteers. Methods This study enrolled 76 patients with diabetes only 〔DM group, 24 h urinary micro albumin (mALB)<30 mg/24 h〕, 81 patients with early DN (EDN group, mALB 30-300 mg/24 h), 87 DN patients (DN group, mALB ≥ 300 mg/24 h), and 82 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers. All the patients were free of systemic infection. PCT levels and various laboratory parameters including metabolic and kidney functions as well as inflammatory element profiles were assessed. Results The PCT level of DN group was significantly higher than that of healthy control group, DM group and EDN group (P<0.001 or P<0.05). Spearman’s test showed a significant positive correlation between PCT and serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH, r=0.541, P<0.01), Urine acid (UA) ( r=0.320, P<0.01), Urea ( r=0.324, P<0.01), creatinine (Cr) ( r=0.403, P<0.01), α-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (α-HBD) ( r=0.791, P<0.01) and C-reactive protein (CRP) ( r=0.694, P<0.001) in diabetic nephropathy patients respectively. Conclusion Serum PCT level of patients with diabetic nephropathy is higher than that of healthy volunteers, which may be associated with minimal inflammation and kidney function damage.