['The present study examined the relationship between clinical features and renal histological changes in the Type 2-diabetic patients and evaluated the usefulness of renal biopsy in the diagnosis of diabetic versus non-diabetic kidney disease.', '52 patients with Type 2-diabetic mellitus were retrospectively analyzed for differential clinical, laboratory features and pathological characteristics including overt proteinuria (> 0.5 g/day), elevated serum creatinine and/or the development of hematuria.', 'Of 52 patients, 20 cases (38.5%) showed no detectable diabetic lesions and, thus, were diagnosed as non-diabetic renal disease (NDRD), while 32 patients (61.5%) exhibited diabetic nephropathy. Interestingly, while 29 patients showed diabetic nephropathy (DN) alone, NDRD was also found in 3 patients with DN. Clinically, 24 out of 52 patients (46.16%) had a diagnosis consistent with the pathological findings, while 10 (19.23%) were diagnosed incorrectly. Compared to NDRD patients, patients with DN had prolonged diabetic history with or without retinopathy, while 25% of patients with NDRD exhibited mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis.'] Is renal pathological change in patients with type 2 diabetes always diabetic nephropathy : a report of 52 cases?