The kidneys as a target organ for secondary microvascular complications of diabetes
mellitus represents a health problem of enormous social cost. Recent studies in man and
animals strongly support the concept that the primary responsibility for diabetic nephropathy
rests with the metabolic derangements of the diabetic state. However, these metabolic
derangements have complex biological effects; it is unlikely that hyperglycemia, per se,
produces all of the nephropathic influences of diabetes. Alterations in microvascular …