On glomerular structural alterations in type-1 diabetes

Glomerular structural modifications were measured in kidney biopsies from two follow-up studies in type-1 diabetic patients with microalbuminuria and in kidney donors. Stereologic methods were used to obtain data on glomerular composition and absolute quantities per glomerulus to supplement data on diabetic glomerulopathy previously published. Diabetic patients at baseline (n=37) showed significant changes compared with controls (n=11). The volume fraction of tuft/glomerulus was increased, the proportion of capillary surface facing peripheral basement membrane was decreased (0.72±0.04 vs 0.77±0.03, P=0.0008), the ratio of mesangial surfaces, urinary/capillary, was decreased (0.67±0.17 vs 1.11±0.28, P