Dysmorphic erythrocytes are superior to hematuria for indicating non‐diabetic renal disease in type 2 diabetics

AIMS/INTRODUCTION: There are sparse and limited studies on erythrocyte morphology in renal biopsy identifying nephropathic patients among type 2 diabetics. The present study sought to clarify the predictive value of dysmorphic erythrocytes in type 2 diabetics with non‐diabetic renal disease and influences on hematuria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined 198 patients with type 2 diabetes who underwent kidney biopsies between 2012 and 2013. Hematuria was defined as >3 or >10 red blood cells per high‐power field (RBCs/hpf) in urine sediment. If >80% of the erythrocytes were dysmorphic, glomerular hematuria was diagnosed. Clinical findings and predictive value of dysmorphic erythrocytes were compared between patients with hematuria (n = 19) and those without (n = 61). The potential risk factors for hematuria among diabetic nephropathy patients were also screened. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference between the diabetic nephropathy group and the non‐diabetic renal disease group (6.6 vs 16.8%; P = 0.04) when the demarcation point of hematuria was 10 RBCs/hpf. When the definition of hematuria was based on an examination of urinary erythrocyte morphology, a marked difference was seen (3.3 vs 24.8%; P < 0.001). Glomerular hematuria showed high specificity and a positive predictive value (0.97 and 0.94, respectively) in non‐diabetic renal disease. A multivariate analysis showed that nephrotic syndrome was significantly associated with hematuria (odds ratio 3.636; P = 0.034). CONCLUSIONS: Dysmorphic erythrocytes were superior to hematuria for indicating non‐diabetic renal disease in type 2 diabetics. Nephrotic syndrome was an independent risk factor for hematuria.