Assessment of the Plasma Levels of Urea Nitrogen, Creatinine and Albumin to Evaluate the Renal Functions among Sudanese with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

A cross-sectional study conducted during the period from February 2012 to May 2012 to determine and to evaluate the plasma levels of urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine and albumin in Sudanese with type 2 diabetes mellitus. 100 Sudanese with type 2 diabetes mellitus were selected as a test group from Jabir Abulizz Diabetes Centre in Khartoum state, Sudan. The test group was compared with a control group, which included 50 apparently healthy volunteers. Blood specimens were collected from both groups, and the plasma levels of BUN, creatinine and albumin, in addition to fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were determined. Age and gender of the test group were matched with the control group. The plasma levels of BUN, creatinine, albumin, glucose and HbA1c were measured used spectrophotometeric methods with commercial kits from Biosystem Company. Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS version 16) computer software was used for data analysis. The results of this study indicated a significantly raised means of the plasma levels of BUN and creatinine of the test group when compared with the control group, whereas the mean of the plasma levels of albumin of the test group showed a significant reduction when compared with that of the control group. The results of this study also indicated a significant elevations of the mean of the plasma levels of BUN, and creatinine among diabetic patients with ischemic heart disease when compared with those without ischemic heart disease, whereas the mean of the plasma levels of albumin among diabetic patients with ischemic heart disease showed significantly decreased when compared with those without ischemic heart disease. The means of the plasma levels of BUN, and creatinine among diabetic patients with hypertension were significantly raised when compared with those without hypertension, whereas the means of the serum levels of albumin among diabetic patients with hypertension were found to be significantly decreased when compared with diabetics without the disease.The results of the current study indicated to significant strong positive correlations between the body mass index (BMI) (kg/m2) and the plasma levels of BUN and creatinine, and showed significant moderate positive correlations between the duration of diabetes (in year) and the plasma levels of BUN and creatinine whereas there was a significant moderate negative correlation between the duration of diabetes (in year) and the plasma levels of albumin. The present study, showed significant strong positive correlations between the HbA1c of diabetic patients and the plasma levels of BUN, and creatinine, and also showed a significant moderate negative correlation between the BMI and the HbA1c of diabetic patients and the plasma levels of albumin. The present study also showed a significant strong positive correlation between FPG and the HbA1C. In conclusion; the current study indicates that the plasma levels of BUN and creatinine are important markers for evaluation of renal disease, because they are significantly correlated with the duration of diabetes and BMI which are a risk factors for renal disease, so they can be used as prognostic markers and for prediction of renal flair and in follow up of diabetic patients especially in those with complications such as hypertension, ischemic heart disease.