Background Among the most important microvascular complications in Type-one-Diabetes Mellitus (T-1-DM) in adolescents and children, Diabetic-nephropathy (DN) stands high. Early detection is crucial to prevent its progress to chronic kidney disease. Objective This study was designed aiming at the elaboration of an updated prevalence for Diabetic-nephropathy and to identify the risk factors among pediatric patients age group with T-1-DM . Methods The present cross-sectional-study was conducted starting from September 2023 to September 2025 including a group of 100 cases of adolescents and children with T-1- DM (aged 5–16 years) and 100-matched age and sex healthy control group. Clinical evaluation included the diabetes disease duration, anthropometry, blood pressure (systolic and diastolic) measurements. Laboratory tests included HbA1c, levels of serum creatinine, and albumin-to-creatinine urinary ratio (ACR). The Estimatedglomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated using the revised Schwartz formula. Renal ultrasonography with Doppler assessment evaluated structural changes. Results The prevalence of Diabetic-nephropathy among T-1-DM patients was 13%. Diabeticnephropathy was significantly associated with higher HbA1c (10.3 ± 1.5%), longer duration of diabetes (>5 years), and elevated systolic blood pressure (p < 0.01). Most Diabetic-nephropathy patients exhibited increased cortical echogenicity (77%) and elevated resistive indices (69%) on renal ultrasound. The study also recorded the statistically significant correlation between HbA1c and urinary ACR (r=0.62, pvalue< 0.001). Conclusion Diabetic-nephropathy affects a notable proportion (13%) of Egyptian children with T-1- DM. Poor control of glycemia, longer disease duration, are major contributing factors. The rising prevalence of T-1-DM likely contributes to the increasing burden of DN. Regular annual screening with ACR, eGFR monitoring, combined biochemical and sonographic markers and early metabolic optimization are crucial to prevent progression to chronic kidney disease.
Darwish et al. (Thu,) studied this question.