Low Serum Uromodulin Levels Linked to Diabetic Kidney Disease, finds study
Researchers have discovered a significant association of low serum levels of uromodulin with diabetic kidney disease (DKD), meaning it could be a predictive marker for the disease. A recent study was published in the journal of BMC Nephrology conducted by Shaimaa and colleagues.
This meta-analysis was based on the PRISMA protocol; systematically reviewed data from PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Scopus; and consisted of six studies which met the inclusion criteria by examining the relationship between serum uromodulin levels and DKD. The standardized mean difference (SMD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was applied to evaluate the association. Heterogeneity was determined using the I² statistic with a threshold of 50% for significant heterogeneity. Sensitivity and subgroup analyses were performed to explore the sources of heterogeneity, and quality of studies was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). Publication bias was assessed by funnel plots and Egger's test.
In total, 1,774 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Pooled results are presented below:
Low Levels of Uromodulin: Serum uromodulin levels were found to be significantly lower in patients with DKD (SMD: -0.31; 95% CI: -0.48 to -0.13; I² = 45%).
Sensitivity Analysis: After sensitivity, results were still significant, and the heterogeneity was lost due to adjustment (SMD:-0.38; 95% CI:-0.49 to -0.27; I²=3%).
Regional Analysis: The subgroup analyses proved that the uromodulin levels were reduced significantly by uromodulin levels throughout various regions.
America: SMD:-0.34(95% CI:-0.51 to -0.17; p<0.0001)
Asia: SMD: -0.63(95% CI: -1.15 to -0.11; p=0.02).
Europe: SMD:-0.54(95% CI:-1.06 to -0.02;p=0.04)
Diabetes Types: Results found to be significant for the following diabetes types.
Type 1 diabetes: SMD: -0.34 (95% CI: -0.51 to -0.17; p <0.0001).
Type 2 diabetes: SMD: -0.58 (95% CI: -0.95 to -0.22; p=0.002).
This meta-analysis confirmed that low serum uromodulin levels are significantly associated with DKD, and it may have the potential as a predictive biomarker. However, further studies are necessary to refine its diagnostic accuracy and explore its implications in diverse populations and clinical settings.
Reference:
Barr, S. I., Abd El-Azeem, E. M., Bessa, S. S., & Mohamed, T. M. (2024). Association of serum uromodulin with diabetic kidney disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Nephrology, 25(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12882-024-03854-x
