The epidemic increase of diabetic nephropathy stimulated also the interest in pathophysiological mechanisms that lead to the development of the disease. The main interest is concentrated on the glycosylation of proteins and lipids, activation of intracellular enzyme cascades (protein kinase C, aldosoreductase) and the effect of vasoactive compounds (NO, prostanoids, angiotensin II) and growth factors. Cytokines are also of great importance. Every new piece of information is used in search for new modes of therapy, but most of them remain at the stage of experiments.

1 interní klinika 1 LF UK a VFN Praha