Abstract: Abstract：Objective To investigate the predictive values of hypoxia- induced factor(HIF)- 1α and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in patients with type 2 diabetic kidney disease, and its relationship between HIF- 1α, VEGF and glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Methods Seventy- six patients with type 2 diabetic kidney disease were divided into two groups: DKD1 group [eGFR＞90 mL/(min·1.73 m2)， n=48] and DKD2 group [60 mL/(min·1.73 m2)＜eGFR≤ 90 mL/(min·1.73 m2), n=28], according to eGFR results. Twenty-three cases with healthy physical examination were used as the control group. The liquid phase immunoprecipitation and transmission turbidity methods were used to detect 24-h urine albumin, and urinary albumin excretion rate (UAE) was calculated. The serum VEGF and HIF-1α levels were measured by ELISA. Results Serum levels of UAE, HIF-1α and VEGF were significantly higher in DKD1 and DKD2 groups than those in control group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in UAE levels between DKD1 and DKD2 groups (P＞0.05). Serum levels of HIF-1α and VEGF were significantly higher in DKD2 group than those of DKD1 group (P＜0.05). There were negative correlation between VEGF and HIF-1α levels with eGFR level (r=-0.59, P < 0.01; r=-0.55, P < 0.01). ROC curve showed that serum VEGF and HIF-1α levels were above the opportunity diagonal. The diagnostic sensitivities of HIF- 1 to DKD1 and DKD2 were 92.1% and 87.4%. The diagnostic specificities of HIF-1 to DKD1 and DKD2 were 91.7% and 85.4%. The diagnostic sensitivities of VEGF to DKD1 and DKD2 were 96.1% and 86.2%, and specificities were 93.3% and 89.1%. Conclusion Serum levels of VEGF and HIF-1α change with the severity of diabetic nephropathy are likely to be an early predictor for the progression of diabetic kidney disease.

Key words: diabetic nephropathies, vascular endothelial growth factors, hypoxia-inducible factor 1, alpha subunit, glomerular filtration rate, urinary albumin excretion