Albumin Serum NGAL Serum L-FABP Urine NGAL Urine L-FABPSpearman’s rho 20.3416 20.0152 20.2814 20.2313 20.P,0.001 0.858 0.001 0.006 0.Multiple regression analysis results. B: Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient analysis. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0054863.tSpearman’s rank correlation coefficient analysis results. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0054863.tNafarelin site results Baseline Study CharacteristicsOne hundred forty type 2 diabetic patients were included in this study. The study subjects were followed up for 20.3162.15 months. The general characteristics and laboratory data of the study subjects are listed in Table 1. Most study subjects had baseline albuminuria less than 300 mg/day and eGFR greater than 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 (Table 2 and 3). The eGFR of the study subjects Title Loaded From File decreased significantly as the study progressed (86.4631.1 vs. 23115181 74.4627.3 ml/min/1.73 m2, P,0.001); and the urine albumin excretion rate was significantly increased (264.961060.3 vs. 557.762092.5 mg/day, P = 0.009). Serum levels of NGAL were significantly increased along the study course (70.0635.7 vs. 90.6655.6 ng/ml, P = 0.001), but the levels of urine NGAL, and serum and urine L-FABP did not change significantly. Blood pressure, blood sugar and lipid profiles did not change significantly, either (Table 1).Association of GFR Decline Rate with Baseline Kidney Injury VariablesPearson correlations between the rate of eGFR decline and the baseline levels of serum NGAL, serum L-FABP, urine NGAL, 1527786 and urine L-FABP and the daily urine albumin amount were analyzed (Figure 2). The results showed that the baseline urine albumin excretion rate was significantly correlated with the rate of eGFR decline (Pearson correlation: 20.384, P,.0.001). The baseline serum NGAL levels were also correlated with the rate of eGFR decline (Pearson correlation: 20.170, P = 0.045). No significant correlation between the rate of eGFR decline and other renal injury markers was noted. The results of correlations between the rate of eGFR decline and the baseline levels of serum NGAL, serum L-FABP, urine NGAL, and urine L-FABP and the urine albumin excretion rate were summarized in Table 6 and 7. The results of multiple regression analysis showed that only the urine albumin excretion rate was significantly correlated with the eGFR decline rate (standardized coefficients: 20.378; t: 24.298; P,0.001) (Table 6). The results of Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient analysis for the correlations between the rate of eGFR decline and the baseline levels of kidney injury variables revealed that only the urine albumin excretion rate was significantly correlated with the eGFR decline rate (Spearman’s rho: 20.2732; P = 0.001) (Table 7). The results of subgroup analysis according to the daily urine albumin excretion rate were listed in supplemental tables. In patients with daily urine albumin excretion rate less than 30 mg, all the kidney injury markers were not significantly correlated with the eGFR decline rate (Tables S1 and S2). In patients with daily urine albumin excretion rate greater than 30 mg, urine albumin and serum L-FABP were significantly associated with eGFR decline rate by regression analysis (Table S3). However, only urine albumin was significantly associated with eGFR decline rate by the nonparametric correlation analysis (Table S4).Association of Baseline GFR with Kidney Injury VariablesThe results of Pearson correlation between baseline eGFR and the baseline levels of serum NGAL, serum L-FABP, urine NGAL, and.Albumin Serum NGAL Serum L-FABP Urine NGAL Urine L-FABPSpearman’s rho 20.3416 20.0152 20.2814 20.2313 20.P,0.001 0.858 0.001 0.006 0.Multiple regression analysis results. B: Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient analysis. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0054863.tSpearman’s rank correlation coefficient analysis results. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0054863.tResults Baseline Study CharacteristicsOne hundred forty type 2 diabetic patients were included in this study. The study subjects were followed up for 20.3162.15 months. The general characteristics and laboratory data of the study subjects are listed in Table 1. Most study subjects had baseline albuminuria less than 300 mg/day and eGFR greater than 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 (Table 2 and 3). The eGFR of the study subjects decreased significantly as the study progressed (86.4631.1 vs. 23115181 74.4627.3 ml/min/1.73 m2, P,0.001); and the urine albumin excretion rate was significantly increased (264.961060.3 vs. 557.762092.5 mg/day, P = 0.009). Serum levels of NGAL were significantly increased along the study course (70.0635.7 vs. 90.6655.6 ng/ml, P = 0.001), but the levels of urine NGAL, and serum and urine L-FABP did not change significantly. Blood pressure, blood sugar and lipid profiles did not change significantly, either (Table 1).Association of GFR Decline Rate with Baseline Kidney Injury VariablesPearson correlations between the rate of eGFR decline and the baseline levels of serum NGAL, serum L-FABP, urine NGAL, 1527786 and urine L-FABP and the daily urine albumin amount were analyzed (Figure 2). The results showed that the baseline urine albumin excretion rate was significantly correlated with the rate of eGFR decline (Pearson correlation: 20.384, P,.0.001). The baseline serum NGAL levels were also correlated with the rate of eGFR decline (Pearson correlation: 20.170, P = 0.045). No significant correlation between the rate of eGFR decline and other renal injury markers was noted. The results of correlations between the rate of eGFR decline and the baseline levels of serum NGAL, serum L-FABP, urine NGAL, and urine L-FABP and the urine albumin excretion rate were summarized in Table 6 and 7. The results of multiple regression analysis showed that only the urine albumin excretion rate was significantly correlated with the eGFR decline rate (standardized coefficients: 20.378; t: 24.298; P,0.001) (Table 6). The results of Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient analysis for the correlations between the rate of eGFR decline and the baseline levels of kidney injury variables revealed that only the urine albumin excretion rate was significantly correlated with the eGFR decline rate (Spearman’s rho: 20.2732; P = 0.001) (Table 7). The results of subgroup analysis according to the daily urine albumin excretion rate were listed in supplemental tables. In patients with daily urine albumin excretion rate less than 30 mg, all the kidney injury markers were not significantly correlated with the eGFR decline rate (Tables S1 and S2). In patients with daily urine albumin excretion rate greater than 30 mg, urine albumin and serum L-FABP were significantly associated with eGFR decline rate by regression analysis (Table S3). However, only urine albumin was significantly associated with eGFR decline rate by the nonparametric correlation analysis (Table S4).Association of Baseline GFR with Kidney Injury VariablesThe results of Pearson correlation between baseline eGFR and the baseline levels of serum NGAL, serum L-FABP, urine NGAL, and.