Evaluation of Urinary Biomarkers of Proximal Tubular Injury, Inflammation, and Fibrosis in Patients With Albuminuric and Nonalbuminuric Diabetic Kidney Disease

Diabetes and Renal Complications: An Overview on Pathophysiology, Biomarkers and Therapeutic Interventions

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a major microvascular complication of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. DKD is characterised by injury to both glomerular and tubular compartments, leading to kidney dysfunction over time. It is one of the most common causes of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Persistent high blood glucose levels can damage the small blood vessels in the kidneys, impairing their ability to filter waste and fluids from the blood effectively. Other factors like high blood pressure (hypertension), genetics, and lifestyle habits can also contribute to the development and progression of DKD. The key features of renal complications of diabetes include morphological and functional alterations to renal glomeruli and tubules leading to mesangial expansion, glomerulosclerosis, homogenous thickening of the glomerular basement membrane (GBM), albuminuria, tubulointerstitial fibrosis and progressive decline in renal function. In advanced stages, DKD may require treatments such as dialysis or kidney transplant to sustain life. Therefore, early detection and proactive management of diabetes and its complications are crucial in preventing DKD and preserving kidney function.

Endostatin, soluble tumour necrosis factor receptor 1 and soluble tumour necrosis factor receptor 2 cannot predict new onset of microalbuminuria in patients with type 2 diabetes

AIMS

Inflammation and angiogenesis play an important role in the development of early diabetic kidney disease. We investigated the association of soluble Tumour Necrosis Factor Receptor 1 (sTNF-R1), sTNF-R2 and endostatin with new onset microalbuminuria in normoalbuminuric patients with diabetes mellitus type 2.

METHODS

We conducted a case control study to assess serum levels of sTNF-R1, sTNF-R2 and endostatin in 169 patients with new onset microalbuminuria and in 188 matched normoalbuminuric, diabetic controls. Baseline serum samples from participants of the ROADMAP (Randomized Olmesartan and Diabetes Microalbuminuria Prevention) and observational follow-up (ROADMAP-OFU) studies were used.

RESULTS

Endostatin and sTNF-R1 but not sTNF-R2 were increased at baseline in patients with future microalbuminuria. In the multivariate analysis, each log2 increment in endostatin levels was associated with an increase of only 6% in the risk of development of microalbuminuria (adjusted HR (95% CI) 1.006 (1.001-1011). sTNF-R1 and sTNF-R2 levels were conversely associated with microalbuminuria, but the results did not reach statistical significance. The respective adjusted HRs (95% CI) were 1.305 (0.928-1.774) and 0.874 (0.711-1.074).

CONCLUSIONS

sTNF-R1 and sTNF-R2 failed to predict the occurrence of microalbuminuria in normoalbuminuric patients with type 2 diabetes. Likewise, the utility of endostatin in predicting new onset proteinuria is limited.

Recent Advances of Proteomics in Management of Acute Kidney Injury

Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) is currently recognized as a life-threatening disease, leading to an exponential increase in morbidity and mortality worldwide. At present, AKI is characterized by a significant increase in serum creatinine (SCr) levels, typically followed by a sudden drop in glomerulus filtration rate (GFR). Changes in urine output are usually associated with the renal inability to excrete urea and other nitrogenous waste products, causing extracellular volume and electrolyte imbalances. Several molecular mechanisms were proposed to be affiliated with AKI development and progression, ultimately involving renal epithelium tubular cell-cycle arrest, inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, the inability to recover and regenerate proximal tubules, and impaired endothelial function. Diagnosis and prognosis using state-of-the-art clinical markers are often late and provide poor outcomes at disease onset. Inappropriate clinical assessment is a strong disease contributor, actively driving progression towards end stage renal disease (ESRD). Proteins, as the main functional and structural unit of the cell, provide the opportunity to monitor the disease on a molecular level. Changes in the proteomic profiles are pivotal for the expression of molecular pathways and disease pathogenesis. Introduction of highly-sensitive and innovative technology enabled the discovery of novel biomarkers for improved risk stratification, better and more cost-effective medical care for the ill patients and advanced personalized medicine. In line with those strategies, this review provides and discusses the latest findings of proteomic-based biomarkers and their prospective clinical application for AKI management.

The Role of Tubulointerstitial Markers in Differential Diagnosis and Prognosis in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and Biopsy Proven Diabetic Kidney Disease

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the potential application of tubularinterstitial biomarkers in the differential diagnosis of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) from non-diabetic kidney disease (NDKD), as well as investigate key clinical and pathological parameters to help improve the stratification of patients according to end-stage renal disease risk.

METHODS

132 type 2 diabetic patients with chronic kidney disease were enrolled. Patients were categorized into 2 groups according to the renal biopsy results: DKD (n=61) and NDKD (n=71).The independent factors of the occurrence of DKD and the diagnostic implications of tubular biomarkers were explored by logistic regression and receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis. Furthermore, predictors were analyzed by least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression, and constructed a new model for predicting the unfavorable renal outcomes through Cox proportional hazard regression analysis.

RESULTS

Serum neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (sNGAL) (OR= 1.007; 95%CI = [1.003, 1.012], p = 0.001) was identified as an independent risk factor for the occurrence of DKD in diabetic patients with CKD. Tubular biomarkers including sNGAL, N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase and β2 microglobulin (β2-MG) could complement albuminuria for DKD detection (AUC = 0.926, specificity = 90.14%, sensitivity = 80.33%).Moreover, among of the 47 variables, 4 predictors such as sNGAL, interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy (IFTA)score, β2-MG and estimated glomerular filtration rate were selected to construct a new model for predicting the unfavorable renal outcomes through regression analysis. sNGAL (HR = 1.004; 95%CI = [1.001, 1.007], p = 0.013), IFTA score of 2 (HR = 4.283; 95%CI = [1.086, 16.881], p = 0.038), and IFTA score of 3 (HR = 6.855; 95%CI = [1.766, 26.610], p = 0.005) were considered to be independent risk factors for unfavorable renal outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Tubulointerstitial injury in DKD is independently associated with renal function decline and routinely detected tubular biomarkers are able to enhance the level of non-invasive diagnosis of DKD beyond traditional factors.

Mitochondrial DNA Changes in Blood and Urine Display a Specific Signature in Relation to Inflammation in Normoalbuminuric Diabetic Kidney Disease in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients

Mitochondrial dysfunction is an important mechanism contributing to the development and progression of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) levels in blood and urine were evaluated in relation to podocyte injury and proximal tubule (PT) dysfunction, as well as to a specific inflammatory response in normoalbuminuric DKD. A total of 150 type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients (52 normoalbuminuric, 48 microalbuminuric, and 50 macroalbuminuric ones, respectively) and 30 healthy controls were assessed concerning the urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (UACR), biomarkers of podocyte damage (synaptopodin and podocalyxin), PT dysfunction (kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) and N-acetyl-β-(D)-glucosaminidase (NAG)), and inflammation (serum and urinary interleukins (IL-17A, IL-18, and IL-10)). MtDNA-CN and nuclear DNA (nDNA) were quantified in peripheral blood and urine via qRT-PCR. MtDNA-CN was defined as the ratio of the number of mtDNA/nDNA copies via analysis of the CYTB/B2M and ND2/B2M ratio. Multivariable regression analysis provided models in which serum mtDNA directly correlated with IL-10 and indirectly correlated with UACR, IL-17A, and KIM-1 (R² = 0.626; p < 0.0001). Urinary mtDNA directly correlated with UACR, podocalyxin, IL-18, and NAG, and negatively correlated with eGFR and IL-10 (R² = 0.631; p < 0.0001). Mitochondrial DNA changes in serum and urine display a specific signature in relation to inflammation both at the podocyte and tubular levels in normoalbuminuric type 2 DM patients.

Urinary Biomarkers in Monitoring the Progression and Treatment of Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease-The Promised Land?

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most common genetic kidney disease, and it leads to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The clinical manifestations of ADPKD are variable, with extreme differences observable in its progression, even among members of the same family with the same genetic mutation. In an age of new therapeutic options, it is important to identify patients with rapidly progressive evolution and the risk factors involved in the disease's poor prognosis. As the pathophysiological mechanisms of the formation and growth of renal cysts have been clarified, new treatment options have been proposed to slow the progression to end-stage renal disease. Furthermore, in addition to the conventional factors (PKD1 mutation, hypertension, proteinuria, total kidney volume), increasing numbers of studies have recently identified new serum and urinary biomarkers of the disease's progression, which are cheaper and more easily to dosing from the early stages of the disease. The present review discusses the utility of new biomarkers in the monitoring of the progress of ADPKD and their roles in new therapeutic approaches.

Diabetic vascular diseases: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic strategies

Vascular complications of diabetes pose a severe threat to human health. Prevention and treatment protocols based on a single vascular complication are no longer suitable for the long-term management of patients with diabetes. Diabetic panvascular disease (DPD) is a clinical syndrome in which vessels of various sizes, including macrovessels and microvessels in the cardiac, cerebral, renal, ophthalmic, and peripheral systems of patients with diabetes, develop atherosclerosis as a common pathology. Pathological manifestations of DPDs usually manifest macrovascular atherosclerosis, as well as microvascular endothelial function impairment, basement membrane thickening, and microthrombosis. Cardiac, cerebral, and peripheral microangiopathy coexist with microangiopathy, while renal and retinal are predominantly microangiopathic. The following associations exist between DPDs: numerous similar molecular mechanisms, and risk-predictive relationships between diseases. Aggressive glycemic control combined with early comprehensive vascular intervention is the key to prevention and treatment. In addition to the widely recommended metformin, glucagon-like peptide-1 agonist, and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors, for the latest molecular mechanisms, aldose reductase inhibitors, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ agonizts, glucokinases agonizts, mitochondrial energy modulators, etc. are under active development. DPDs are proposed for patients to obtain more systematic clinical care requires a comprehensive diabetes care center focusing on panvascular diseases. This would leverage the advantages of a cross-disciplinary approach to achieve better integration of the pathogenesis and therapeutic evidence. Such a strategy would confer more clinical benefits to patients and promote the comprehensive development of DPD as a discipline.

Serum Uromodulin, a Potential Biomarker of Tubulointerstitial Damage, Correlates Well with Measured GFR and ERPF in Patients with Obstructive Nephropathy

Background and Objectives: In chronic kidney obstruction, the severity of tubulointerstitial damage correlates best with the loss of kidney function and the risk for progression to end-stage kidney disease. The present study aimed to investigate the potential clinical significance of serum uromodulin (sUmod) as a marker of early kidney disfunction in patient with obstructive nephropathy (ON). Materials and Methods: Serum Umod level was measured by sensitive ELISA method in 57 adult patients with obstructive nephropathy and 25 healthy subjects in control group. Kidney function was precisely evaluated via measured glomerular filtration rate (mGFR) (renal clearance of 99 mTc-diethylenetriamine penta-acetic acid), effective renal plasma flow (ERPF) and Cystatin C level. Recruited patients were divided into subgroups based on the mGFR: group I—GFR ≤ 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 (N = 31), group II—GFR > 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 (N = 26). Results: A significantly lower level of serum uromodulin was measured in patients with ON (50.2 ± 26.3 ng/mL) compared to the control group (78.3 ± 24.5 ng/mL) (p < 0.001). The mean level of serum Umod was significantly different between group I (30.5 ng/mL ± 11.1) and group II (73.6 ng/mL ± 18.6) (p < 0.001), but not between group II (73.6 ng/mL ± 18.6) and control group (78.3 ± 24.5 ng/mL). There was a positive correlation between sUmod and mGFR (R = 0.757, p < 0.001) and ERPF (R = 0.572 p < 0.001), with lower sUmod levels in patients with impaired renal function. An inverse relationship was detected between sUmod and filtration markers—cystatin C (R = −0.625, p < 0.001), creatinine, urea and uric acid. ROC analysis of sUmod to differentiate between ON patients with GFR below 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 and above 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 resulted in AUC of 0.98 (p < 0.001, 95% CI 0.922 vs. 0.998) at a cut-off value of 46 ng/mL (specificity 96.8%, sensitivity 92.2%). Conclusions: The significant correlation of sUmod with kidney function parameters may imply potential clinical significance as a noninvasive biomarker of early kidney disfunction in obstructive nephropathy.

Urinary A- and C-megalin predict progression of diabetic kidney disease: an exploratory retrospective cohort study

AIMS

Megalin, a proximal tubular endocytosis receptor, is excreted in urine in two forms: ectodomain (A-megalin) and full-length (C-megalin). We explored whether urinary megalin levels can be used as independent prognostic biomarkers in the progression of diabetic kidney disease (DKD).

METHODS

The associations between baseline urinary A-megalin/creatinine (Cr) and/or C-megalin/Cr levels and the subsequent estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) slope were analyzed using a generalized estimating equation. Patients were categorized into higher or lower groups based on the optimal cutoff values, obtained from a receiver operating characteristic curve, of the two forms of urinary megalin.

RESULTS

We retrospectively analyzed 188 patients with type 2 diabetes. The eGFR slopes of the higher A-megalin/Cr and higher C-megalin/Cr groups were - 0.904 and -0.749 ml/min/1.73 m²/year steeper than those of the lower groups, respectively. Moreover, the eGFR slope was -1.888 ml/min/1.73 m²/year steeper in the group with both higher A- and higher C-megalin/Cr than in the other group. These results remained significant when adjusted for known urinary biomarkers (albumin, α₁-microglobulin, β₂-microglobulin, and N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase).

CONCLUSIONS

Urinary A- and C-megalin/Cr levels are likely to be prognostic biomarkers in the progression of DKD independent of other urinary biomarkers.

Urinary RBP as an Independent Predictor of Renal Outcome in Diabetic Nephropathy

Background

Renal tubular impairment is prevalent in diabetic nephropathy (DN) and the histological severity predicted renal outcome. Biomarkers of tubular injury also increased in the urine of DN patients. The retrospective study aimed to assess the prognostic value of clinically widely applied urinary tubular injury markers, retinol-binding protein (RBP), β2-microglobulin (β2-MG) and N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) in DN.

Method

A total of 305 patients with biopsy-proven DN were enrolled. The baseline urine total protein and components including albumin, IgG, RBP, β2-MG and NAG were retrieved from medical records. The primary outcome was end stage renal disease (ESRD). Cox proportional hazard analysis and restricted cubic splines were performed to evaluate the association of parameters with ESRD. Nomograms were constructed and concordance index (C-index) was used to measure the prediction ability.

Result

The levels of urinary RBP, β2-MG and NAG were positively correlated with the severity of interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy (IFTA). Positive correlations were also observed among β2-MG, NAG and mesangial expansion. Urinary RBP was not correlated with any glomerular lesions. Urinary RBP, β2-MG and NAG were risk factors for ESRD in hazard analysis with adjustment for age, gender and body mass index (BMI). The hazard ratios increased with the increment of baseline levels. In the multivariate Cox model including serum creatinine (SCr), total urinary protein, urinary albumin, urinary IgG and the tubular injury biomarkers, urinary RBP (with every g/mol.Cr increase: HR 1.06, 95% CI 1.03-1.10, p =0.001) remained as an independent risk factor for ESRD in DN patients. Patients were divided by the medium value of urinary RBP into the low RBP and high RBP groups. Survival analysis showed that significantly more patients in the high RBP progressed to ESRD compared to those in the low RBP group (p =0.02) when urinary total protein was less than 3.5 g/g. The C-index of the nomogram incorporating age, gender, BMI, SCr and total urine protein was 0.757. The value increased to 0.777 after adding urinary RBP to the model.

Conclusions

Urinary RBP excretion was only correlated with the severity of IFTA and independently predicted ESRD in DN patients.

The Clinical Significance of Urinary Retinol-Binding Protein 4: A Review

Effective biomarkers for early diagnosis, prognostication, and monitoring in renal diseases (in general) comprise an unmet need. Urinary retinol-binding protein 4, which is the most sensitive indicator of renal tubular damage, holds great promise as a universal biomarker for renal pathologies, in which tubular injury is the driving force. Here, we summarize the most important existing data on the associations between urinary retinol-binding protein 4 and renal diseases and highlight the untapped potential of retinol-binding protein 4 in clinical use.

Spatial localization of β-unsaturated aldehyde markers in murine diabetic kidney tissue by mass spectrometry imaging

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease. Limitations in current diagnosis and screening methods have sparked a search for more specific and conclusive biomarkers. Hyperglycemic conditions generate a plethora of harmful molecules in circulation and within tissues. Oxidative stress generates reactive α-dicarbonyls and β-unsaturated hydroxyhexenals, which react with proteins to form advanced glycation end products. Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) enables the detection and spatial localization of molecules in biological tissue sections. Here, for the first time, the localization and semiquantitative analysis of “reactive aldehydes” (RAs) 4-hydroxyhexenal (4-HHE), 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), and 4-oxo-2-nonenal (4-ONE) in the kidney tissues of a diabetic mouse model is presented. Ionization efficiency was enhanced through on-tissue chemical derivatization (OTCD) using Girard’s reagent T (GT), forming positively charged hydrazone derivatives. MSI analysis was performed using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) coupled with Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR). RA levels were elevated in diabetic kidney tissues compared to lean controls and localized throughout the kidney sections at a spatial resolution of 100 µm. This was confirmed by liquid extraction surface analysis–MSI (LESA-MSI) and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS). This method identified β-unsaturated aldehydes as “potential” biomarkers of DN and demonstrated the capability of OTCD-MSI for detection and localization of poorly ionizable molecules by adapting existing chemical derivatization methods. Untargeted exploratory distribution analysis of some precursor lipids was also assessed using MALDI-FT-ICR-MSI.

High Glycated Hemoglobin Instead of High Body Mass Index Might Increase the Urine N-Acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase Con-Centration in Children and Adolescents with Diabetes Mellitus

Children with diabetes, and particularly those with obesity, have poor glycemic control. They are thus at higher risk of early microvascular complications. Renal tubulointerstitial markers are integral to evaluating diabetic nephropathy. Various biomarkers have been proposed, but their role in the obese pediatric population is uncertain. We investigated renal injury markers in children with diabetes, according to obesity, and determined their role as early predictors of diabetic nephropathy. Fifty-three children and adolescents, diagnosed with either type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus, and 43 control children, aged 7-18 years, were included. Clinical and laboratory characteristics, including six renal injury markers, were compared among subjects according to body mass index and presence of diabetes mellitus. Urine neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, kidney injury molecule-1, and N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) showed significant difference between controls and diabetic children, whereas urine NAG was the only biomarker that was significantly lower either in non-obese or obese controls as compared to diabetic children. Urine NGAL, KIM-1, and NAG showed significant correlations with both HbA1c and urine ACR, whereas only urine NAG was significantly correlated with HbA1c even when groups were subdivided based on the presence of either obesity or diabetes. After adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, duration of known diabetes, and urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio, HbA1c remained a significant risk factor for elevated urine NAG. Urine NAG could be a useful indicator of tubulointerstitial damage in children with diabetes in the pre-albuminuric state. Tighter glycemic control appears to be crucial for avoiding early progression to diabetic nephropathy.

Markers of kidney tubular and interstitial injury and function among sugarcane workers with cross-harvest serum creatinine elevation

OBJECTIVES

Serum creatinine (SCr) is a routine marker of kidney injury but also increases with dehydration and muscular work. This study was to elucidate whether increase in SCr is associated with more specific markers of kidney tubular and interstitial injury and function, during prolonged heat stress among workers at high risk of chronic kidney disease of non-traditional origin (CKDnt).

METHODS

Urine monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), calbindin, glutathione S-transferase-π (GST-π), clusterin, interleukin 18 and albumin, fractional excretion of potassium (FEK), blood haemoglobin, serum potassium, ferritin and erythropoietin were measured before and after harvest in a sample of 30 workers with a ≥0.3 mg/dL SCr increase across harvest (cases), and 53 workers with stable SCr (controls).

RESULTS

Urine MCP-1 (p for differential cross-harvest trend <0.001), KIM-1 (p=0.002), calbindin (p=0.02), GST-π (p=0.04), albumin (p=0.001) and FEK (p<0.001) increased in cases, whereas blood haemoglobin (p<0.001) and serum erythropoietin (p<0.001) decreased.

CONCLUSION

Several markers of tubular and interstitial injury and function changed as SCr increased across a harvest season, supporting the use of SCr as an indicator of kidney injury in physically active workers regularly exposed to heat stress. Repeated injury similar to that described here, and continued work under strenuous and hot conditions with similarly elevated injury markers is likely to worsen and possibly initiate CKDnt.

Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 predicts the development of diabetic nephropathy

AIM

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a devastating complication of diabetes mellitus (DM). Therefore, screening strategies in order to prevent its development and/or retard its progression are of paramount importance. We investigated if monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) was associated with new onset microalbuminuria-the earliest sign of the albuminuric phenotype of DN- in patients with type 2 DM and normoalbuminuria.

METHODS

We measured MCP-1 in serum and urine samples from patients of the Randomized Olmesartan And Diabetes Microalbuminuria Prevention (ROADMAP) study and its Observational Follow-up (OFU) cohort. A case control design was used with inclusion of 172 patients who developed microalbuminuria (MA) and of 188 well matched controls who remained normoalbuminuric.

RESULTS

The median duration of follow-up for the ROADMAP cohorts was 6.5 years, whereas the mean time until occurrence of MA was 53.2 months. In the multivariate analysis, serum and urine MCP-1 remained significant predictors of new onset MA. The risk for MA increased continuously with increasing serum and urine MCP-1 levels but reached statistical significance only in the highest quartiles. The risk associations were stronger with serum MCP-1.

CONCLUSIONS

MCP-1 is a marker and possibly a mediator of early diabetic nephropathy. Further prospective studies are necessary to test whether diabetic patients with elevated MCP-1 levels would benefit from specific therapeutic interventions.

Update on pathogenesis and diagnosis flow of normoalbuminuric diabetes with renal insufficiency

In recent decades, the prevalence of diabetic kidney disease has remained stable and appears to be a wide heterogeneity. Normoalbuminuric diabetes with renal insufficiency, which is characterized by a decline in the glomerular filtration rate in the absence of albuminuria, has been identified as an albuminuria-independent phenotype of diabetic kidney disease. Epidemiological data demonstrate that normoalbuminuric phenotype is prevalent. Compared to albuminuric phenotype, normoalbuminuric phenotype has distinct clinical characteristics and a wide heterogeneity of pathological features. Currently, the pathogenesis of normoalbuminuric phenotype remains unclear. Additionally, the flow of diagnosing normoalbuminuric phenotype is not perfect. In this article, we review the latest studies addressing the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and pathology of normoalbuminuric phenotype. Based on the studies of clinical features and renal histopathologic changes, we attempt to propose an underlying pathogenesis model and a flow chart for diagnosing normoalbuminuric phenotype.

Novel Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Patients with Diabetic Kidney Disease

Patients with diabetic kidney disease (DKD) are at very high risk for cardiovascular events. Only part of this increased risk can be attributed to the presence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and to other DM-related comorbidities, including hypertension and obesity. The identification of novel risk factors that underpin the association between DKD and cardiovascular disease (CVD) is essential for risk stratification, for individualization of treatment and for identification of novel treatment targets.In the present review, we summarize the current knowledge regarding the role of emerging cardiovascular risk markers in patients with DKD. Among these biomarkers, fibroblast growth factor-23 and copeptin were studied more extensively and consistently predicted cardiovascular events in this population. Therefore, it might be useful to incorporate them in risk stratification strategies in patients with DKD to identify those who would possibly benefit from more aggressive management of cardiovascular risk factors.