Vnitr Lek 2010, 56(4):351-355

Clinical significance of vascular damage in patients with diabetes and renal impairment - a nephrologist's view

S. Dusilová Sulková^1,2

¹ Nefrologické oddělení Kliniky gerontologické a metabolické Lékařské fakulty UK a FN Hradec Králové, přednosta prof. MUDr. Luboš Sobotka, CSc.

² Subkatedra nefrologie Katedry interních oborů Lékařské fakulty UK a FN Hradec Králové, přednosta prof. MUDr. Jaroslav Malý, CSc.

Care for diabetic patients with renal impairment and vascular damage is a typical example of care requiring inter-professional approach. Vascular damage in patients with diabetes may lead to renal disease (ischemic nephropathy, high incidence but frequently unrecognised in diabetic patients). Renal ischemia resulting from hypoperfusion due to vascular changes contributes to progression of nephropathy and accelerates destruction of functional renal parenchyma. Vascular damage is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients on dialysis. Amputations are reported in 6% of patients and increase the risk of death by at least 50%. All these issues highlight the need for comprehensive and early inter-professional care aimed at protecting the vascular system, i.e. recognition and, whenever possible, elimination of all factors contributing to vascular damage in diabetic patients.

Keywords: diabetes mellitus; diabetic nephropathy; ischemic nephropathy

Received: January 14, 2010; Published: April 1, 2010  Show citation