Objective tongue phenotyping identifies phenotypic heterogeneity in diabetic kidney disease: a dual-center clustering analysis
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By
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Zhaoxi Dong
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Jiayou Liu
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Jiyuan Hu
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Jiaming Su
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Zheyu Xu
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Xinhui Yu
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Jie Mei
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Fengyi Cai
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Fawei Li
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Xinyue Zang
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Runze Wang
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Yuanhao Chen
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Dongze Li
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Weihong Chen
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Qingqing Liu
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Chengdong Peng
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Yang Shi
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Hongfang Liu
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July 17, 2026
Clinical Scorecard: Tongue Phenotyping Reveals Variability in Diabetic Kidney Disease: A Clustering Analysis from Two Medical Centers
At a Glance
| Category | Detail |
|---|
| Condition | Diabetic Kidney Disease (DKD) |
| Key Mechanisms | Tongue phenotyping and unsupervised clustering of tongue features to identify subtypes. |
| Target Population | Patients with diabetic kidney disease (DKD). |
| Care Setting | Clinical research in two medical centers. |
Key Highlights
- Identified two distinct tongue-phenotype subtypes in DKD patients.
- Cluster 1 exhibited darker tongue color and higher saturation.
- Cluster 2 showed higher brightness and thicker coating.
- Significant differences in tongue features but not in laboratory profiles.
- Study utilized advanced clustering methods for phenotype differentiation.
Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
- Use objective tongue phenotyping for stratification in DKD.
Management
- Consider individualized interventions based on tongue phenotype.
Monitoring & Follow-up
- Monitor tongue features as potential indicators of disease progression.
Risks
- Recognize the heterogeneity in DKD progression among patients.
Patient & Prescribing Data
331 patients with diabetic kidney disease from two hospitals.
Tongue characteristics may provide complementary insights for precision treatment.
Clinical Best Practices
- Incorporate tongue phenotyping in clinical assessments for DKD.
- Utilize machine learning approaches for identifying disease subtypes.
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