Significance of urinary fatty acid-binding protein 4 level as a possible biomarker for the identification of minimal change disease in patents with nephrotic-range proteinuria

Table 1 Clinical characteristics of the patients

n	81
Age, years	57 ± 17
Male/Female	43/38
Body mass index	23.5 ± 4.2
Diagnosis ^a
IgA nephropathy/IgA vasculitis	23 / 3 (32.1)
MGA	15 (18.5)
MCNS	9 (11.1)
Membranous nephropathy	12 (14.8)
Diabetic nephropathy	4 (4.9)
Others	15 (18.5)
Blood pressure, mmHg
Systolic	126 ± 21
Diastolic	73 ± 13
Laboratory data
Creatinine, mg/dL ^b	0.84 (0.68–1.22)
Blood urea nitrogen, mg/dL ^b	14.0 (10.8–18.5)
eGFR, mL/min/1.73m²	62 ± 28
Total cholesterol, mg/dL	238 ± 101
Triglycerides, mg/dL ^b	142 (108–215)
Fasting glucose, mg/dL	94 ± 13
Plasma FABP4, ng/mL ^b	20.4 (13.1–33.7)
Urinary data
Proteinuria, g/gCr ^b	0.92 (0.25–3.77)
Hematuria ^a	48 (59.3)
Urinary FABP4, μg/gCr ^b	0.55 (0.21–2.34)
Urinary FABP1, μg/gCr ^b	6.78 (1.74–20.80)

Variables are expressed as number, number (%) ^a means ± SD or medians (interquartile ranges) ^b
eGFR estimated glomerular filtration rate, FABP fatty acid-binding protein, MCNS minimal change nephrotic syndrome, MGA minor glomerular abnormalities