Determinants of Uromodulin Levels among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Background: Uromodulin, commonly known as Tamm Horsfall protein, is a glycoprotein that is uniquely produced by the kidneys. In conditions like diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD), lower levels of circulating uromodulin are frequently linked to worse renal outcomes. Objective: To evaluate the relationship between uromodulin levels and variables such as age, gender, body mass index (BMI), glycemic control, and the duration of diabetes in individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methodology: This case-control study took place from April 2025 to August 2025 across various hospitals in Najaf, involving a total of 176 participants 20 individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (60 males and 60 females) and 56 healthy controls (28 males and 28 females). The patients with type 2 diabetes were categorized into three groups based on their urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR): DN1, DN2, and DN3. Individuals were excluded from the study if they had type-1 diabetes, gestational diabetes, or acute complications like hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state, diabetic ketoacidosis, or lactic acidosis. Furthermore, those with heart disease, liver failure, malignancies, or chronic kidney disease from non-diabetic causes were also excluded. Uromodulin levels were assessed using the Cloud Clone Human Uromodulin kit (China) along with ELISA-Human Reader HS (Germany). Result: The findings indicated significant differences in uromodulin levels correlated with factors such as age, sex, BMI, duration of diabetes, and glycemic control (p