Investigation of the relationship of NGAL, FGF23, SCUBE-1, cystatin C and matrix metalloproteinase-9 levels measured in the serum of diabetic patients with the urine albumin/creatinine ratio

Objective: Our study aimed to investigate the relationship between urine albumin/creatinine ratio and NGAL, FGF23, SCUBE-1, cystatin C and MMP-9 levels in diabetic patients, prediabetes patients and healthy control groups, and to determine whether it is possible to use these biomarkers in the diagnosis, follow-up and prognosis of diabetic nephropathy. Materials and Methods: For this study, three groups were formed; clinically diagnosed diabetes, prediabetes and a healthy control group, consisting of 84 participants between the ages of 20-80 who applied to the Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases polyclinic of Ankara University Faculty of Medicine Ibni Sina Hospital between 03.05.2023-31.07.2023. An additional tube of blood was taken from the patients for the measurement of serum NGAL, FGF23, SCUBE-1, cystatin C and MMP-9 levels during their admission to the polyclinic. The parameter levels in serum weremeasured by the ELISA method. The urinary albumin/creatinine ratio and lipid profile used in the study were provided from the hospital database after obtaining the necessary permissions. Results: There was no statistically significant difference detected between the groups for serum NGAL and cystatin C levels. FGF23 and SCUBE-1 levels were found significantly increased in the diabetes and prediabetes groups as compared to the control group. MMP-9 levels were found significantly increased in the diabetes groups as compared to the other groups and in prediabetes group as compared to the control group. In the correlation studies, no statistically significant results were found between the urinary albumin/creatinine ratio and serum NGAL, FGF23, SCUBE-1, cystatin C and MMP-9 levels. Conclusion: It was determined that it is not appropriate to use serum NGAL, FGF23, SCUBE-1, cystatin C and MMP-9 levels instead of urinary albumin/creatinine ratio in the diagnosis, follow-up and prognosis of diabetic nephropathy.However, it may be clinically useful to conduct large-scale studies on FGF23, SCUBE-1 and MMP-9 proteins found significantly differ between the study groups. Keywords: Diabetic nephropathy, urinary albumin/creatinine ratio, NGAL, FGF23, SCUBE-1, Cystatin C, MMP-9