Figure 1.
Schematic presentation of variable clinical courses of diabetic nephropathy.
The case and control definitions used in the primary GWAS in Sandholm et al. [9] are indicated by green bold (controls) and red double-lined boxes (cases). GFR, glomerular filtration rate; ESRD, end stage renal disease. Microalbuminuria, urinary albumin excretion rate of 30–300 mg per day; macroalbuminuria, urinary albumin excretion rate of >300 mg per day. *, GFR and albuminuria may progress independently of each other, i.e., patients may have micro- or macroalbuminuria even though their GFR is normal or even slightly elevated. However, macroalbuminuria is usually associated with reduced GFR, and is a strong risk factor for progressive loss of eGFR and ESRD.