Kidney Biopsy Findings Among Patients With Diabetes in the Cleveland Clinic Kidney Biopsy Epidemiology Project

Rationale & Objectives

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a significant complication of diabetes mellitus, often leading to kidney failure. The absence of well-defined factors prevents distinguishing DKD from non-diabetic kidney disease (non-DKD; alternative primary diagnosis identified on kidney biopsy).

Study Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting & Participants

This study assessed 1,242 patients with a history of diabetes from the Cleveland Clinic Kidney Biopsy Epidemiology Project between January 2015 and September 2021.

Exposure

Proteinuria, retinopathy, A1c levels, and estimated glomerular filtration rate.

Outcomes

Non-DKD, defined as an alternative primary diagnosis identified on kidney biopsy other than DKD.

Analytical Approach

Multivariate logistic regression model with backward elimination method.

Results

At the time of biopsy, the median (IQR) age was 63 (53-71 years) years, and 58.8% were men. The median hemoglobin A1c value was 6.7% (6.0%-8.1%), and the median serum creatinine level was 2.5 (1.6-3.9 mg/dL) mg/dL. Among 1,242 patients, 462 (37.2%) had DKD alone, and 780 (62.8%) had non-DKD. Among those with non-DKD, the most common diagnoses were focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (24%), global glomerulosclerosis otherwise not specified (13%), acute tubular necrosis (9%), IgA nephropathy (8%), antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody vasculitis (7%), and membranous nephropathy (5%). Factors associated with having non-DKD on biopsy were having no retinopathy (vs retinopathy) (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 3.98; 95% CI, 2.69-5.90), lower A1c levels (<7% vs ≥7%) (aOR, 3.08; 95% CI, 2.16-4.39), higher estimated glomerular filtration rate (≥60 vs <60 mL/min/1.73 m²) (aOR, 2.39; 95% CI 1.28-4.45), microalbuminuria (<300 vs macroalbuminuria ≥300 [mg/g]) (aOR; 2.94; 95% CI, 1.84-4.72), and lower protein-creatinine ratio on random urine sample (<3 vs ≥3 mg/mg) (aOR; 1.80; 95% CI, 1.24-2.61).

Limitations

Selection bias of clinically indicated biopsies, not protocol biopsies, which likely represent a ceiling (maximum) for non-DKD.

Conclusions

Among patients with diabetes undergoing kidney biopsy, 63% have findings in addition to DKD on biopsy. We identified clinical parameters associated with non-DKD in the setting of diabetes. This provides valuable information for clinicians when kidney biopsy should be considered among patients with diabetes to capture all etiologies of proteinuria and kidney dysfunction.

Plain-Language Summary

Our study aimed to better understand when to perform kidney biopsies in patients with diabetes. Often, nephrologists diagnose diabetes-related kidney disease based on clinical parameters without a biopsy. We sought to look at what the spectrum of kidney biopsy findings were in patients with a clinical history of diabetes to see how many patients had diabetic kidney disease or other findings. Given the advent of several new medications that treat and slow the progression of diabetic kidney disease, we also sought to see what clinical factors were more likely to suggest a finding of nondiabetic kidney disease on biopsy to help guide clinicians when to biopsy in this population.