Relation of kidney size to kidney function in early insulin-dependent diabetes

Abstract

Renal function and renal size have been studied in ten early insulin-dependent diabetic patients and in ten matched control subjects. Glomerular filtration rate, renal plasma flow and radiological kidney size were determined in each subject. Glomerular filtration rate and renal plasma flow were increased in diabetics (mean ± SD: 169.6± 16.1 and 690.1±52.6ml/min/1.73 m², respectively) compared with controls (120.6±9.7 and 605.9±67.2 ml/min/1.73m²; p < 0.001 and p 2 of body surface area was elevated in diabetics (385.2±29.0 g) with respect to controls (277.5±17.5 g; p p p < 0.01 in all cases). These findings support the conclusion that in the early state of diabetes glomerular hyperfunction is related to enlargement of the kidneys and augmented renal plasma flow.