Diabetes, Vol 37, Issue 6 745-748, Copyright © 1988 by American Diabetes Association
Abnormal erythrocyte charge in diabetes mellitus. Link with microalbuminuria
G Gambaro, B Baggio, E Cicerello, S Mastrosimone, G Marzaro, A Borsatti and G Crepaldi
Institute of Internal Medicine, University Hospital, Padova, Italy.
The anionic charge on the surface of the erythrocyte and the erythrocyte
membrane content of sialic acid and acid glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) were
evaluated in insulin-dependent diabetic patients who had albumin excretion
rates less than 300 mg/24 h. In these subjects a statistically significant
reduction of erythrocyte anionic charge (RBCCh) and GAGs content in
erythrocyte ghosts was shown. In view of the demonstration of a negative
correlation between RBCCh and albuminuria after a lysine provocative test,
these observations support the hypothesis that the onset of
microalbuminuria in human diabetes is sustained by an alteration of
glomerular charge and consequently of glomerular charge selectivity.