The estimated GFR, but not the stage of diabetic nephropathy graded by the urinary albumin excretion, is associated with the carotid intima-media thickness in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a cross-sectional study

Cardiovascular risk and renal injury profile in subjects with type 2 diabetes and non-albuminuric diabetic kidney disease

BACKGROUND

In the last years, the classical pattern of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) has been partially overcome, because of the uncovering of a new DKD phenotype with significant renal dysfunction without presence of albuminuria: the non-albuminuric DKD (NA-DKD). To date, the cardiovascular risk associated with this phenotype is still debated. We investigated the cardiovascular risk and renal injury profile of NA-DKD subjects in comparison with other DKD phenotypes.

METHODS

Pulse wave velocity (PWV), intima-media thickness, presence of carotid atherosclerotic plaque, renal resistive index (RRI), and a panel of urinary biomarkers of kidney injury were evaluated in 160 subjects with type 2 diabetes, stratified according to estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urinary albumin to creatinine ratio (UACR) into four groups: controls (UACR < 30 mg/g and eGFR ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m2), A-DKD (Albuminuric-DKD, UACR ≥ 30 mg/g and eGFR ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m2), NA-DKD (UACR < 30 mg/g and eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2), AL-DKD (Albuminuric and Low eGFR-DKD; UACR ≥ 30 mg/g and eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2).

RESULTS

Subjects with NA-DKD showed a higher PWV (11.83 ± 3.74 m/s vs. 10.24 ± 2.67 m/s, P = 0.045), RRI (0.76 ± 0.11 vs. 0.71 ± 0.09, P = 0.04), and prevalence of carotid atherosclerotic plaque (59% vs. 31%, P = 0.009) compared with controls. These characteristics were similar to those of subjects with AL-DKD, whereas the profile of A-DKD subjects was closer to controls. After multiple regression analyses, we found that RRI, that is in turn influenced by eGFR (β = - 0.01, P = 0.01), was one of the major determinants of PWV (β = 9.4, P = 0.02). Urinary TreFoil Factor 3, a marker of tubular damage, was higher in NA-DKD subjects vs. controls (1533.14 ± 878.31 ng/mL vs. 1253.84 ± 682.17 ng/mL, P = 0.047). Furthermore, after multiple regression analyses, we found that urinary osteopontin was independently associated with PWV (β = 2.6, P = 0.049) and RRI (β = 0.09, P = 0.006).

CONCLUSIONS

Our data showed a worse cardiovascular and renal injury profile in NA-DKD subjects. This finding emphasizes the central role of eGFR in the definition of cardiovascular risk profile of diabetic subjects together with albuminuria.

Association between carotid intima-media thickness and acute kidney injury following isolated coronary artery bypass surgery

OBJECTIVE

The association between pre-operative carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and early postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) following isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) was investigated.

METHODS

Data were sought retrospectively of 237 patients (166 male, 71 female; mean age 61.4 ± 8.1 years; range: 32-74), operated on for isolated CABG with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in a single centre between June 2014 and December 2020, with a serum creatinine level < 1.5 mg/dl and normal carotid arteries on Doppler ultrasonography. AKI diagnosis was made according to the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes 2012 Acute Kidney Injury Guideline. Patients were grouped as group 1 with AKI in the early postoperative period (n = 63) and group 2 without AKI ( n = 174). Univariate analyses were done to determine significant clinical factors, and subsequent multiple logistic regression analysis was done to determine independent predictors of AKI.

RESULTS

AKI occurred in 63 (26.6%) patients. Pre-operative CIMT was significantly higher in the AKI group (p = 0.0001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that elevated pre-operative CIMT ( p = 0.005), C-reactive protein ( p = 0.001), erythrocyte sedimentation rate ( p = 0.005), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio ( p = 0.0001) and platelet-lymphocyte ratio ( p = 0.0001) increased on the postoperative seventh day. C-reactive protein ( p = 0.04), postoperative first day platelet- lymphocyte ratio ( p = 0.0001), postoperative seventh day erythrocyte sedimentation rate ( p = 0.02) and intubation time ( p = 0.02) were independent predictors of early postoperative AKI following isolated CABG.

CONCLUSIONS

Pre-operative CIMT was found to be an independent predictor of AKI in the early postoperative period of isolated CABG.

Evaluation of Subclinical Vascular Disease in Diabetic Kidney Disease: A Tool for Personalization of Management of a High-Risk Population

Background: Patients with diabetic kidney disease (DKD) are at increased risk for cardiovascular events but traditional risk factors do not fully explain this association. Evaluation of subclinical vascular disease might improve risk stratification and management of these patients. The aim of the study was to compare the prevalence of markers of arterial stiffness, carotid atherosclerosis and peripheral arterial disease between patients with DKD and patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and preserved kidney function. Methods: We prospectively enrolled patients with DKD and age- and gender-matched patients with T2DM but without DKD (estimated glomerular filtration rate < and ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively). The presence of arterial stiffness was evaluated by measuring pulse wave velocity (PWV), augmentation index (AIx), AIx adjusted to a heart rate of 75 beats/min (AIx@75) and central systolic, diastolic, pulse and mean blood pressure. The presence of carotid atherosclerosis was evaluated by measuring carotid stenosis, carotid intima-media thickness and maximal plaque thickness. The presence of PAD was evaluated with the measurement of ankle-brachial index (ABI). Results: Forty patients with T2DM were included in the study (mean age 71.6 ± 8.9 years). The prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors was similar in patients with and without DKD. PWV was higher in the former (9.8 ± 5.5 and 6.6 ± 4.4 m/s, respectively; p < 0.05) and carotid stenosis of the left carotid artery was also greater in patients with DKD (36.5 ± 12.6 and 22.1 ± 17.2%, respectively; p < 0.05). Other markers of arterial stiffness and carotid atherosclerosis and ABI did not differ between patients with DKD and those without DKD. Conclusions: Patients with DKD appear to have more pronounced arterial stiffness and carotid atherosclerosis than patients with T2DM and preserved kidney function despite the similar prevalence of traditional cardiovascular risk factors in the two groups. Therefore, evaluating the presence of subclinical vascular disease in these patients could be a useful tool for the personalization of their management.

Albuminuria but not low eGFR is closely associated with atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes: an observational study

BACKGROUND

There is still controversy regarding the associations of urinary albumin excretion (UAE) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) with atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Therefore, it is necessary to explore the correlation between them in T2DM patients.

METHODS

We conducted a survey involving 2565 T2DM patients from a single center. The study cohort was classified into three groups based on the levels of albuminuria: normal UAE (UAE < 30 mg/24 h), moderate UAE (UAE between 30 and 299 mg/24 h) and high UAE (UAE ≥ 300 mg/24 h). Additionally, the patients were divided into three separate groups according to eGFR levels, including low eGFR (eGFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2), intermediate eGFR (eGFR 60-89 ml/min/1.73 m2) and normal eGFR (eGFR ≥ 90 ml/min/1.73 m2) groups. Atherosclerotic lesions were compared among the three UAE and eGFR groups. Regression analyses were used to assess the associations of atherosclerotic lesions with UAE and eGFR in T2DM.

RESULTS

After controlling for age, sex and diabetes duration, the prevalence of atherosclerotic plaque and stenosis were significantly increased from the normal to high UAE groups (plaque: 72.2%, 78.6% and 87.3%, respectively, p = 0.016 for trend; stenosis: 14.0%, 25.5% and 37.3%, respectively, p < 0.001 for trend). Likewise, the values of carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and femoral intima-media thickness (FIMT) were also obviously increased from the normal to high UAE groups (CIMT: p < 0.001 for trend; FIMT: p = 0.001 for trend). Conversely, only the FIMT value was clearly increased from the low to normal eGFR groups (p = 0.001 for trend). Fully adjusted regression analyses revealed that UAE was closely associated with the presence of atherosclerotic plaque (OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.03-1.40, p = 0.020) and stenosis (OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.01-1.35, p = 0.036), and with the values of CIMT (β 0.05, 95% CI 0.01-0.10, p = 0.029) and FIMT (β 0.07, 95% CI 0.03-0.11, p = 0.001) in T2DM patients. However, there was no significant association between eGFR levels and atherosclerotic lesions in T2DM after adjustment for multiple confounding factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, albuminuria rather than low eGFR is closely associated with atherosclerotic lesions in T2DM patients. Albuminuria is an independent risk factor for carotid and femoral atherosclerotic lesions in T2DM. Therefore, albuminuria may be a potential early marker to predict the development of atherosclerosis in patients with T2DM.

Dysregulation of miR-638 in diabetic nephropathy and its role in inflammatory response

BACKGROUND

MicroRNA (miRNA) can be used as a biomarker for the early diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy (DN). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of miR-638 in DN and to analyse its regulatory effect on inflammation.

METHODS

This retrospective study involved 98 subjects, including non-diabetic healthy controls (n = 30), patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM, n = 36) without complications and patients with DN (n = 32). After the anthropometric and biochemical evaluation, serum miR-638 levels were assessed by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The levels of inflammatory cytokines (interleukin [IL]-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-α]) were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The Spearman correlations were used to analyze the correlation between miR-638 and urinary albumin excretion (UAE), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and inflammatory factors. Furthermore, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to measure the diagnostic value of miR-638 in DN. Human mesangial cells (HMCs) were treated with normal glucose (NG, 5.5 mM glucose), high glucose (HG, 30 mM glucose), or high osmotic pressure solution (HO, 5.5 mM glucose + 24.5 mM mannitol) in vitro to simulate the hyperglycamic state in vivo. Subsequently, the HMCs were transfected with miR-638 mimics to regulate the level of miR-638 in the cells and detect its regulation on cell inflammation and proliferation.

RESULTS

Compared with healthy controls and patients with T2DM, serum miR-638 in patients with DN was significantly lower. The reduced miR-638 expression has a significant diagnostic value, which can significantly distinguish patients with DN from healthy controls or patients with T2DM. Inflammatory factors were significantly upregulated in patients with DN and negatively correlated with miR-638 levels. In addition, miR-638 was negatively correlated with UAE and positively correlated with eGFR. HG decreased the level of miR-638 and promoted the expression of inflammatory factors and proliferation in HMCs. However, miR-638 mimic significantly decreased the levels of inflammatory factors and inhibited the proliferative ability induced by HG.

CONCLUSIONS

Serum miR-638 expression was low in DN and can be a potentially valuable biomarker for DN. This miRNA seems to influence inflammatory responses and participate in the progression of DN by regulating proliferation.

Prevalence of Microalbuminuria and Its Association with Subclinical Carotid Atherosclerosis in Middle Aged, Nondiabetic, Low to Moderate Cardiovascular Risk Individuals with or without Hypertension

Microalbuminuria is closely associated with the risk of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality in the general population. Less is known about its relationship with subclinical atherosclerosis. We aimed to assess the prevalence of microalbuminuria and its relationship with subclinical atherosclerosis in middle-aged, nondiabetic, apparently healthy individuals (N = 187; 40.1% men, 59.9% women; aged 35–55 years) as well as to evaluate its potential associations with established risk modifiers, especially with the presence of carotid plaque. Clinical and laboratory parameters, the estimated 10-year fatal cardiovascular risk (SCORE), as well as circulating, functional (flow mediated vasodilation, ankle-brachial index, augmentation index, and pulse wave velocity), and morphological markers (mean carotid intima–media thickness, and carotid plaque) of subclinical atherosclerosis were analysed in group with vs. without microalbuminuria. Microalbuminuria was present in 3.8% of individuals with SCORE risk 0.43 ± 0.79%. Functional markers predominated in both groups. Carotid intima–media thickness (mean ± SD) in both groups was in range: 0.5–0.55 ± 0.09–0.14 mm. Carotid plaque was more frequent in group with (14.3%) vs. without (4.4%) microalbuminuria. Microalbuminuria had no statistically significant effect on most markers of subclinical atherosclerosis, but the increasing value of microalbuminuria was significantly associated with the occurrence of carotid plaque (p = 0.035; OR = 1.035; 95% CI = 1.002–1.07). Additional multiple logistic regression analysis, where variables belonged to microalbuminuria, number of risk factors, and family history, finally showed only two variables: microalbuminuria (p = 0.034; OR = 1.04; 95%CI = 1.003–1.09) and the number of risk factors (p = 0.006; OR = 2.15; 95% CI = 1.24–3.73) with independent and significant impact on the occurrence of carotid plaque. Our results may indicate an association of microalbuminuria with the presence of carotid atherosclerotic plaque; in addition, microalbuminuria and the number of risk factors appear to be possible predictors of the carotid plaque occurrence. Monitoring microalbuminuria may improve the personalized cardiovascular risk assessment in nondiabetic, low-to-moderate cardiovascular risk individuals with or without hypertension.

The prognosis of subjects showing a reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate without albuminuria in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes: a cohort study for diabetic kidney disease

BACKGROUND

To determine the renal and cardiovascular prognosis and all-cause mortality of Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes showing a reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) without albuminuria.

METHODS

A population of 675 patients with type 2 diabetes was prospectively observed for 4 years to determine the renal and cardiovascular outcomes and mortality. The subjects were divided into the four groups: those with a preserved eGFR and no albuminuria (n = 306), a preserved eGFR and albuminuria (n = 151), a reduced eGFR and no albuminuria (n = 96), and a reduced eGFR and albuminuria (n = 122). The Cox proportional hazard model and Fine and Gray method were used to assess between-group differences in the risk of mortality and cardiovascular events.

RESULTS

In the group with a reduced eGFR, the eGFR value did not significantly change in the subjects without albuminuria (0 ± 8 mL/min/1.73 m²), whereas it decreased continuously in those with albuminuria (-6 ± 12 mL/min/1.73 m²). The incidence of cardiovascular events was significantly (P = 0.03) higher in the subjects with albuminuria (17%) than those without albuminuria (7%) in the group with a reduced eGFR. Cardiovascular events were significantly (P < 0.01) more frequent in the group with a reduced eGFR than in those with a preserved eGFR in both subjects with and without albuminuria.

CONCLUSIONS

The risk of end-stage kidney disease in non-albuminuric subjects with a reduced eGFR is considered to be low. We should focus on cardiovascular prognosis, because these patients are still at high risk of cardiovascular events, even though the prognosis is better in comparison to albuminuric patients.

Integration of estimated glomerular filtration rate biomarker in image-based cardiovascular disease/stroke risk calculator: a south Asian-Indian diabetes cohort with moderate chronic kidney disease

BACKGROUND

Recently, a 10-year image-based integrated calculator (called AtheroEdge Composite Risk Score-AECRS1.0) was developed which combines conventional cardiovascular risk factors (CCVRF) with image phenotypes derived from carotid ultrasound (CUS). Such calculators did not include chronic kidney disease (CKD)-based biomarker called estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). The novelty of this study is to design and develop an advanced integrated version called-AECRS2.0 that combines eGFR with image phenotypes to compute the composite risk score. Furthermore, AECRS2.0 was benchmarked against QRISK3 which considers eGFR for risk assessment.

METHODS

The method consists of three major steps: 1) five, current CUS image phenotypes (CUSIP) measurements using AtheroEdge system (AtheroPoint, CA, USA) consisting of: average carotid intima-media thickness (cIMTave), maximum cIMT (cIMTmax), minimum cIMT (cIMTmin), variability in cIMT (cIMTV), and total plaque area (TPA); 2) five, 10-year CUSIP measurements by combining these current five CUSIP with 11 CCVRF (age, ethnicity, gender, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, smoking, carotid artery type, hemoglobin, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, and eGFR); 3) AECRS2.0 risk score computation and its comparison to QRISK3 using area-under-the-curve (AUC).

RESULTS

South Asian-Indian 339 patients were retrospectively analyzed by acquiring their left/right common carotid arteries (678 CUS, mean age: 54.25±9.84 years; 75.22% males; 93.51% diabetic with HbA1c ≥6.5%; and mean eGFR 73.84±20.91 mL/min/1.73m²). The proposed AECRS2.0 reported higher AUC (AUC=0.89, P<0.001) compared to QRISK3 (AUC=0.51, P<0.001) by ~74% in CKD patients.

CONCLUSIONS

An integrated calculator AECRS2.0 can be used to assess the 10-year CVD/stroke risk in patients suffering from CKD. AECRS2.0 was much superior to QRISK3.

Presence of Carotid Plaque Is Associated with Rapid Renal Function Decline in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Normal Renal Function

BACKGROUND

Recent evidences indicate that early rapid renal function decline is closely associated with the development and progression of diabetic kidney disease. We have investigated the association between carotid atherosclerosis and rapid renal function decline in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and preserved renal function.

METHODS

In a prospective, multicenter cohort, a total of 967 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and preserved renal function were followed for 6 years with serial estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) measurements. Common carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and presence of carotid plaque were assessed at baseline. Rapid renal function decline was defined as an eGFR decline >3.3% per year.

RESULTS

Over a median follow-up of 6 years, 158 participants (16.3%) developed rapid renal function decline. While there was no difference in CIMT, the presence of carotid plaque in rapid decliners was significantly higher than in non-decliners (23.2% vs. 12.2%, P<0.001). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, presence of carotid plaque was an independent predictor of rapid renal function decline (odds ratio, 2.33; 95% confidence interval, 1.48 to 3.68; P<0.0001) after adjustment for established risk factors. The model including the carotid plaque had better performance for discrimination of rapid renal function decline than the model without carotid plaque (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.772 vs. 0.744, P=0.016).

CONCLUSION

Close monitoring of renal function and early intensive management may be beneficial in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and carotid plaques.

Assessment of the Relationship between Carotid Intima-Media Thickening and Early-Stage Diabetic Kidney Disease Coupled with Helicobacter pylori Infection

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to explore the associations between carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and early-stage diabetic kidney disease (DKD) coupled with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in type 2 diabetic patients.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study including 180 type 2 diabetic participants was conducted to explore the associations between CIMT and early-stage DKD coupled with H. pylori infection, and a stepwise multivariate regression analysis evaluated the correlations of CIMT with clinical and serologic parameters.

RESULTS

The type 2 diabetic patients with early-stage DKD coupled with H. pylori infections had the highest CIMT values. Apolipoprotein B (ApoB), urine albumin/creatinine ratio (UACR), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were independent predictors of CIMT.

CONCLUSIONS

Early-stage DKD coupled with H. pylori infection may synergistically lead to significant CIMT thickening in type 2 diabetic patients. Additionally, ApoB, UACR, and IL-6 levels were important independent risk factors for increased CIMT.

Current Metabolic Status Affects Urinary Liver-Type Fatty-Acid Binding Protein in Normoalbuminuric Patients With Type 2 Diabetes

Background

We aimed to study the association between urinary liver-type fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP), a biomarker of tubulointerstitial injury, and the clinical characteristics of normoalbuminuric and albuminuric patients with type 2 diabetes in order to detect the factors affecting urinary L-FABP.

Methods

Urinary L-FABP levels were measured in 788 patients with type 2 diabetes and again in 666 patients at 6 months after the initial measurement. The association between the urinary L-FABP level and the clinical parameters was investigated in a retrospective cross-sectional study and a subsequent observation.

Results

The HbA1c (odds ratio (OR): 1.42; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.11 - 1.79; P < 0.01), systolic blood pressure (OR: 1.03; 95% CI: 1.01 - 1.05; P < 0.01) levels and estimated glomerular filtration rate (OR: 0.98; 95% CI: 0.96 - 1.00; P = 0.01) were significantly associated with the high levels of urinary L-FABP (> 8.4 μg/gCr) in normoalbuminuric patients. However, a logistic regression analysis revealed that use of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors (OR: 2.22; 95% CI: 1.16 - 4.89; P = 0.02), urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) (OR: 1.01; 95% CI: 1.00 - 1.01; P < 0.01) and serum HDL-cholesterol concentration (OR: 0.33; 95% CI: 0.11 - 0.89; P = 0.03) were significantly associated in albuminuric patients. In the follow-up observation, the change in urinary L-FABP was found to be significantly (P < 0.01) influenced by the change in the HbA1c level in both the normoalbuminuric and albuminuric patients.

Conclusions

High urinary L-FABP is associated with part of the current metabolic abnormalities, including high levels of HbA1c and systolic blood pressure among normoalbuminuric patients with type 2 diabetes.

Association between plasma homocysteine levels and end-organ damage in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus patients

PURPOSE

The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between plasma homocysteine (Hcy) levels and carotid, cardiac, and renal end-organ damage in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients.

METHODS

Newly diagnosed normotensive T2DM patients (n = 390) were enrolled in this study. The patients were not taking any medications over the duration of the study. The left ventricular mass index (LVMI), carotid intima media thickness (CIMT), and creatinine levels and 24-h microalbuminuria were used to determine cardiac, carotid, and kidney end-organ diseases, respectively.

RESULTS

Using univariate logistic regression analysis; age, 24-h microalbuminuria, fasting blood glucose, CIMT, creatinine level, and LVMI were found to be significantly associated with the Hcy level. When those six variables were included in a multivariate regression model, CIMT, LVMI, and creatinine were found to be significantly associated with the Hcy level. We determined that an Hcy level >12.5 µmol/L was predictive of high LVMI, with a sensitivity of 70.1% and a specificity of 68%. An Hcy level >13.5 µmol/L was predictive of high CIMT, with a sensitivity of 67.5% and a specificity of 63.1%.

CONCLUSION

In this study, LVMI, CIMT, and creatinine level were positively correlated with the Hcy level. We believe that the Hcy level may be a useful predictor of end-organ damage, including cardiac, carotid, and renal diseases, in newly diagnosed T2DM patients.

The renal tubular damage marker urinary N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase may be more closely associated with early detection of atherosclerosis than the glomerular damage marker albuminuria in patients with type 2 diabetes

Background

To determine the association between urinary N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase (NAG), a marker of renal tubulopathy, and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaques in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) and to compare the predictive value of NAG versus albuminuria, a marker of renal glomerulopathy.

Methods

A total of 343 participants were enrolled in this retrospective cross-sectional study. We recruited participants with T2D who were tested for blood glucose parameters, urinary NAG, and urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) and had been checked for carotid ultrasonography.

Results

We classified participants into a below-median urinary NAG group (Group I; n = 172) or an above-median group (Group II; n = 171). Mean, maximum, and mean of maximum carotid IMT and the proportion of patients with carotid plaques were significantly higher in Group II compared with Group I. In multiple linear regression analyses, high urinary NAG (Group II) was significantly associated with carotid IMT, independently of urinary ACR and other confounding factors. In terms of carotid plaques, both urinary NAG and ACR were significantly higher in participants with carotid plaques than in those without carotid plaques. After adjustment for confounding factors, both urinary NAG and ACR were significantly associated with the presence of carotid plaques.

Conclusions

Elevated urinary NAG, a marker of renal tubular damage, was related to increased carotid IMT and the presence of carotid plaques in patients with T2D. Urinary NAG may be a more sensitive biomarker than urinary albumin for early detection of atherosclerosis.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12933-017-0497-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Evolution of target organ damage and haemodynamic parameters over 4 years in patients with increased insulin resistance: the LOD-DIABETES prospective observational study

OBJECTIVES

We prospectively examined the impact of type 2 diabetes compared with metabolic syndrome (MetS) on the development of vascular disease over 4 years as determined by anatomic and functional markers of vascular disease. By comparing the vascular outcomes of the 2 disorders, we seek to determine the independent effect of elevated glucose levels on vascular disease.

SETTING

2 primary care centres in Salamanca, Spain.

PARTICIPANTS

We performed a prospective observational study involving 112 patients (68 with type 2 diabetes and 44 with MetS) who were followed for 4 years.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

Measurements included blood pressure, blood glucose, lipids, smoking, body mass index, waist circumference, Homeostasis Model Assessment Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), hs-c-reactive protein and fibrinogen levels. We also evaluated vascular, carotid intima media thickness (IMT), pulse wave velocity (PWV) and ankle/brachial index, heart and renal target organ damage (TOD). The haemodynamic parameters were central (CAIx) and peripheral (PAIx) augmentation indices.

RESULTS

In year 4, participants with type 2 diabetes had increased IMT thickness. These patients had more plaques and an IMT>0.90 mm. In participants with MetS, we only found an increase in the number of plaques. We found no changes in PWV, CAIx and PAIx. The patients with diabetes had a greater frequency of vascular TOD. There were no differences neither in renal nor cardiac percentage of TOD in the patients with MetS or diabetes mellitus type 2.

CONCLUSIONS

This prospective study showed that the evolution of vascular TOD is different in participants with type 2 diabetes compared with those with MetS. While IMT and PWV increased in type 2 diabetes, these were not modified in MetS. The renal and cardiac TOD evolution, as well as the PAIx and CAIx, did not change in either group.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT01065155; Results.

Relationship Between Carotid Atherosclerosis and Pulse Pressure with Renal Hemodynamics in Hypertensive Patients

BACKGROUND

Structural atherosclerotic damage, arterial stiffness, pulse pressure (PP), and renal hemodynamics may interact and influence each other. Renal resistance index (RRI) appears as a good indicator of systemic vascular changes. The aim of our study was to assess the independent relationships of carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV), and peripheral PP with RRI in hypertensives with various degrees of renal function.

METHODS

We enrolled 463 hypertensive patients (30-70 years) with normal renal function (group 0; n = 280) and with chronic kidney disease (groups I-V; n = 183). All subjects underwent ultrasonographic examination of intrarenal and carotid vasculature, as well as a 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.

RESULTS

A statistically significant difference in RRI, cIMT, aPWV, and clinic PP was observed in the different 6 groups (all P < 0.001), even after adjustment for age. RRI correlated with cIMT (r = 0.460, P < 0.001), aPWV (r = 0.386, P < 0.001), clinic PP (r = 0.279, P < 0.001), and 24-h PP (r = 0.229, P < 0.001) in the entire study population. These correlations were similar in subjects with and without renal dysfunction. In the overall study population, the association between RRI, cIMT, and clinic PP remained statistically significant even after adjustment for various confounding factors, whereas the relationship between RRI and aPWV was lost in multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

cIMT and clinic PP rather than directly aPWV are associated with intrarenal hemodynamics. Our results confirm that in hypertensives RRI not only detects derangement of intrarenal circulation but may also be considered as a sensor of systemic vascular changes, independently of level of renal function.

Carotid Intima-Media Thickness and Visit-to-Visit HbA1c Variability Predict Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease in Type 2 Diabetic Patients with Preserved Kidney Function

Background/Aims. Subclinical atherosclerosis and long-term glycemic variability have been reported to predict incident chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the general population. However, these associations have not been investigated in patients with type 2 diabetes with preserved kidney function. Methods. We prospectively followed up 162 patients with type 2 diabetes (mean age, 62.3 years; 53.6% men) and assessed whether carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) measured by B-mode ultrasound and visit-to-visit HbA1c variability are associated with deterioration of CKD (incident CKD defined as estimated GFR [eGFR] < 60 mL/min/1.73 m² and progression of CKD stages) over a median follow-up of 6.0 years. At baseline, 25 patients (15.4%) had CKD. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used for identifying associated factors of CKD deterioration. Results. Estimated GFR decreased from 75.8 ± 16.3 to 67.4 ± 18.2 mL/min/1.73 m² (p < 0.01). Of 162 patients, 32 developed CKD and 8 made a progression of CKD stages. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that carotid IMT (HR: 4.0, 95% CI: 1.1-14.226.7, and p = 0.03) and coefficient of variation of HbA1c (HR: 1.12, 95%: 1.04-1.21, and p = 0.003) were predictors of deterioration of CKD independently of age, mean HbA1c, urinary albumin/creatinine ratio, baseline eGFR, uric acid, and leucocyte count. Conclusions. Subclinical atherosclerosis and long-term glycemic variability predict deterioration of chronic kidney disease (as defined by incident or worsening CKD) in type 2 diabetic patients with preserved kidney function.

Relationships between the duration of illness and the current status of diabetes in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

AIMS

The aim of the present study was to clarify the relationships between the duration of diabetes and the current statuses of diabetes in elderly (aged ≥65 years) patients with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

Clinical characteristics were cross-sectionally examined in 1436 patients (684 elderly and 752 non-elderly) with type 2 diabetes.

RESULTS

As the duration of diabetes increased, the patients' age, frequency of receiving insulin therapy and glycated hemoglobin value increased in both the elderly and non-elderly groups, whereas the urinary C-peptide immunoreactivity and glomerular filtration rate decreased. The duration of diabetes (years) was significantly associated with the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.03-1.07, P < 0.01), nephropathy (OR 1.03, 95% CI 1.01-1.05, P < 0.01) and neuropathy (OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.05-1.12, P < 0.01), but not with cerebrovascular disease (OR 1.01, 95% CI 0.99-1.03, P = 0.38), coronary heart disease (OR 1.02, 95% CI 1.00-1.04, P = 0.09) or peripheral artery disease (OR 1.02, 95%CI 0.99-1.05, P = 0.12) in the elderly patients after adjusting for the traditional risk factors of diabetic angiopathies. In contrast, the duration of diabetes showed a significant association with the prevalence of both diabetic micro- and macroangiopathies in the non-elderly patients.

CONCLUSIONS

It should be noted that atherosclerotic diseases are present in the clinical setting for the management of elderly diabetic patients independent of the duration of diabetes. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 24-30.

High visceral fat with low subcutaneous fat accumulation as a determinant of atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes

Background

Abdominal visceral obesity has been reported to be associated with cardiovascular risks than body mass index, waist circumference, and abdominal subcutaneous fat. On the other hand, there is evidence that subcutaneous fat has a beneficial role against cardio-metabolic risks such as diabetes or dyslipidemia. However, little is known regarding the association between high visceral fat with low subcutaneous fat accumulation and the risk for atherosclerosis.

Methods

This study was designed to elucidate whether high visceral fat with low subcutaneous fat accumulation enhances the risk for atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes. This is a cross-sectional study of 148 patients with type 2 diabetes (mean age 65 ± 12 years; 44.5 % female). Visceral fat area (VFA, cm²) and subcutaneous fat area (SFA, cm²) were assessed by abdominal computed tomography. Carotid intima media thickness (CIMT, mm) measured by ultrasonography was used for the assessment of atherosclerosis. Patients were divided into four groups: SFA < 100 cm² and VFA < 100 cm² [S(−)V(−)], SFA ≥ 100 cm² and VFA < 100 cm² [S(+)V(−)], SFA < 100 cm² and VFA ≥ 100 cm² [S(−)V(+)], and SFA ≥ 100 cm² and VFA ≥ 100 cm² [S(+)V(+)]. Linear regression analysis with a stepwise procedure was used for the statistical analyses.

Results

Among the patients examined, 16.3 % were S(−)V(+). Mean (95 % confidence interval) of CIMT adjusting for age and gender were 0.80 (0.69–0.91), 0.86 (0.72–1.01), 1.28 (1.11–1.44) and 0.83 (0.77–0.88) in patients with S(−)V(−), S(+)V(−), S(−)V(+) and S(+)V(+), respectively (p < 0.001). The S(−)V(+) patients exhibited significantly older than S(−)V(−) patients and those with S(+)V(+) and had a highest VFA-SFA ratio (V/S ratio) among the four groups. S(−)V(+) patients were male predominant (100 % male), and S(+)V(−) patients showed female predominance (82 % female). In multivariate linear regression analysis (Adjusted R² = 0.549), S(−)V(+) was significantly associated with CIMT (Standardized β 0.423, p < 0.001). Notably, S(+)V(+) was inversely associated with CIMT in the multivariate model.

Conclusions

This study provides evidence that high visceral fat with low subcutaneous fat accumulation is an important determinant of carotid atherosclerosis and high subcutaneous fat could be protective against atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Gender differences in the progression of target organ damage in patients with increased insulin resistance: the LOD-DIABETES study

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to analyze the evolution of vascular, cardiac and renal target organ damage (TOD) in patients with increased insulin resistance over a 3.5 year follow-up and to investigate gender difference and factors that influence its progression.

METHODS

We performed a prospective observational study involving 112 patients (71 men, 41 women) who were followed for 3.5 years. Measurements included blood pressure, blood glucose, lipids, smoking, body mass index (BMI) and HOMA-Ir Vascular TOD included carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), pulse wave velocity (PWV) and ankle/brachial index (ABI). Cardiac TOD included Cornell voltage-duration product and Sokolow. Renal TOD included creatinine, glomerular filtration and albumin/creatinine ratio.

RESULTS

The IMT increased in both genders. Each year, the IMT increased 0.005 mm in men and 0.011 in women and the PWV 0.024 and 0.020 m/sec, respectively. The highest increase was in women with type 2 diabetes mellitus, who had an increase in TOD carotid (40%), PWV (24%) and renal TOD (20 %). Multiple regression analysis, after adjusting for age and gender, showed a negative association between duration since diabetes diagnosis and ABI (β = -0.006; p = 0.017) and between BMI and glomerular filtration (β = -0.813; p = 0.014). HbA1c was positively associated with PWV (β = 0.501; p = 0.014).

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that the progression of vascular and renal TOD differs by gender. The increase in vascular and renal TOD was higher in women, especially in diabetic women. The PWV increase showed a positive association with mean HbA1c levels during the follow-up. Glomerular filtration was associated with BMI and the ABI was associated with duration since type 2 diabetes mellitus diagnosis.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinical Trials.gov Identifier NCT01065155.

Diabetic Nephropathy and CKD-Analysis of Individual Patient Serum Creatinine Trajectories: A Forgotten Diagnostic Methodology for Diabetic CKD Prognostication and Prediction

Creatinine is produced in muscle metabolism as the end-product of creatine phosphate and is subsequently excreted principally by way of the kidneys, predominantly by glomerular filtration. Blood creatinine assays constitute the most common clinically relevant measure of renal function. The use of individual patient-level real-time serum creatinine trajectories provides a very attractive and tantalizing methodology in nephrology practice. Topics covered in this review include acute kidney injury (AKI) with its multifarious rainbow spectrum of renal outcomes; the stimulating vicissitudes of the diverse patterns of chronic kidney disease (CKD) to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) progression, including the syndrome of rapid onset end stage renal disease (SORO-ESRD); the syndrome of late onset renal failure from angiotensin blockade (LORFFAB); and post-operative AKI linked with the role of intra-operative hypotension in patients with diabetes mellitus and suspected diabetic nephropathy with CKD. We conclude that the study of individual patient-level serum creatinine trajectories, albeit a neglected and forgotten diagnostic methodology for diabetic CKD prognostication and prediction, is a most useful diagnostic tool, both in the short-term and in the long-term practice of nephrology. The analysis of serum creatinine trajectories, both in real time and retrospectively, indeed provides supplementary superior diagnostic and prognostic insights in the management of the nephrology patient.

High-normal urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio is independently associated with metabolic syndrome in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A cross-sectional community-based study

AIMS/INTRODUCTION

Microalbuminuria is positively related to metabolic syndrome (MetS). Our aim was to investigate whether urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) within the normal range is independently associated with MetS in Chinese community-based patients with type 2 diabetes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 514 participants (206 males and 308 females; mean age 66 years) with UACR less than 3.5 mg/mmol were enrolled from two downtown areas of Shanghai. The participants were stratified into quartiles according to UACR levels. The prevalence of MetS was assessed and compared among the four groups by binary logistic regression.

RESULTS

Compared with participants with UACRs in the first quartile, the other quartiles had a higher prevalence of MetS (65.9%, 74.4% and 81.3%, respectively, P = 0.001) after adjustment for sex and age. After adjusting for potential confounders, participants in the second to the fourth quartile group had a 1.36-, 1.84- and 2.73-fold risk of MetS, respectively, relative to those in the lowest quartile. Furthermore, UACR, whether as quartile groups or as a continuous variable, is an independent predictor of MetS after fully adjusting for other variables.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that UACR even within the normal range is independently associated with MetS in Chinese community-based patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Type 2 diabetes-associated carotid plaque burden is increased in patients with retinopathy compared to those without retinopathy

Background

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality among subjects with type 2 diabetes (T2D), and diabetic retinopathy (DR) has been associated with an increased risk for CVD. The present study was designed to test the concept that T2D patients with DR, but without previous cardiovascular (CV) events and with normal renal function, have an increased atherosclerotic burden compared with patients without DR.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was performed using patients with normal renal function (estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) >60 ml/min) and without previous CV events. A total of 312 patients (men, 51%; mean age, 57 yrs; age range 40–75 yrs) were included in the study; 153 (49%) of the patients had DR. B-mode carotid ultrasound imaging was performed for all of the study subjects to measure the carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and carotid plaques in the common carotid artery (CCA), bifurcation and internal carotid artery (ICA).

Results

The percentage of carotid plaques in T2D patients with DR was higher than in T2D patients without DR (68% vs. 52.2%, p = 0.0045), and patients with DR had a higher prevalence of ≥2 carotid plaques (44.4% vs. 21.4%; p < 0.0001). No differences were observed in the cIMT measured at different carotid regions between the patients with or without DR. Using multivariate logistic regression (adjustment for major risk factors for atherosclerosis), DR was independently associated with mean-internal cIMT (p = 0.0176), with the presence of carotid plaques (p = 0.0366) and with carotid plaque burden (≥2 plaques; p < 0.0001).

Conclusions

The present study shows that DR in T2D patients without CVD and with normal renal function is associated with a higher atherosclerotic burden (presence and number of plaques) in the carotid arteries. These patients may be at a higher risk for future CV events; therefore, an ultrasound examination of the carotid arteries should be considered in patients with DR for more careful and individualised CV assessment and follow-up.

The Relationship between Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate and Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the leading cause of visual impairment and blindness in working-aged people. Several studies have suggested that glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was correlated with DR. This is a hospital-based study and the aim of it was to examine the relationship between the GFR and DR in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We used CKD-EPI equation to estimate GFR and SPSS 19.0 and EmpowerStats software to assess their relationship. Among the 1613 participants (aged 54.75 ± 12.19 years), 550 (34.1%) patients suffered from DR. The multivariate analysis revealed that the risk factors for DR include age (P < 0.001, OR = 0.940), duration of diabetes (P < 0.001, OR = 1.163), hemoglobin A1c (P = 0.007, OR = 1.224), systolic blood pressure (P < 0.001, OR = 1.032), diastolic blood pressure (P = 0.007, OR = 0.953), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (P = 0.024, OR = 3.884), and eGFR (P = 0.010, OR = 0.973). Through stratified analysis and saturation effect analysis, our data suggests that eGFR of 99.4 mL/min or lower might imply the early stage of DR in diabetic patients. Thus, the evaluation of eGFR has clinical significance for the early diagnosis of DR.

Glycated peptides are associated with the variability of endothelial dysfunction in the cerebral vessels and the kidney in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Diabetic atherosclerosis and microangiopathy parallel diabetic nephropathy. The aim of our study was to evaluate the pattern of endothelial dysfunction in two vascular territories, the kidney and the brain, both affected by diabetic vasculopathic complications. The endothelial variability was evaluated in relation to advanced glycation end-products modified peptides.

METHODS

Seventy patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and 11 healthy subjects were assessed concerning urine albumin: creatinine ratio, plasma and urinary advanced glycation end-products, plasma asymmetric dimethyl-arginine, serum cystatin C, intima-media thickness in the common carotid arteries, the pulsatility index, the resistance index in the internal carotid arteries and the middle cerebral arteries, the cerebrovascular reactivity through the breath-holding test.

RESULTS

The breath-holding index correlated with asymmetric dimethyl-arginine (R²=0.151; p<0.001), plasma advanced glycation end-products (R²=0.173; p<0.001), C-reactive protein (R²=0.587; p<0.001), duration of diabetes mellitus (R²=0.146; p=0.001), cystatin C (R²=0.220; p<0.001), estimated glomerular filtration rate (R²=0.237; p=0.001). Urine albumin: creatinine ratio correlated with urinary advanced glycation end-products (R²=0.257; p<0.001), but not with asymmetric dimethyl-arginine (R²=0.029; p=0.147).

CONCLUSIONS

In type 2 diabetic patients endothelial dysfunction in the cerebral vessels appears to be dissociated from glomerular endothelial dysfunction in early diabetic nephropathy. Advanced glycation end-products could impact both the cerebral vessels and the glomerular endothelium.

Low-grade albuminuria associated with brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity in young adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus in China

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular disease is prevalent in type 2 diabetics, and microalbuminuria is associated with cardiovascular disease morbidity. We aimed to investigate the potential association between low-grade albuminuria and arterial stiffness in patients with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

Between 2009 and 2013, a retrospective study was performed in 578 patients with type 2 diabetes (339 male patients and 239 female patients) with normal urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratios (ACRs; <30 mg/g) from Fuzhou, China. Patients were stratified into tertiles based on urinary ACR levels (lowest tertile, urinary ACR < 4.8 mg/g; highest tertile, urinary ACR ≥ 20.1 mg/g). Arterial stiffness was measured via brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity.

RESULTS

Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity, age, duration of diabetes, systolic blood pressure and pulse wave velocity progressively increased across all urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio tertiles (p < 0.05). Patients in the second and the highest tertiles had significantly elevated pulse wave velocity [114.6 mm/s (95% CI = 36.8-192.4) and 209.4 mm/s (95% CI = 131.8-286.9)], p = 0.004 and 0.000] compared with those in the lowest ACR tertile. The association between ACR and elevated pulse wave velocity still persisted in patients younger than 65 years of age and those with diabetes <10 years, conferring 45 or 51% greater risk of elevated pulse wave velocity (OR = 1.451; 95% CI = 1.119-1.881; p = 0.005 or OR = 1.515; 95% CI = 1.167-1.966; p = 0.0018) with each ACR tertile increment. Each ACR tertile increment conferred 31.7% higher risk of increased pulse wave velocity (OR = 1.317; 95% CI = 1.004-1.729; p = 0.0468).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with type 2 diabetes with urinary albumin excretion in the upper normal range were still at risk for target organ damage. Low-grade albuminuria might be an early marker for the detection of arterial stiffness in patients with type 2 diabetes, especially in younger patients with type 2 diabetes with shorter durations of disease.

Flow Mediated Dilatation Is Reduced with the Progressive Stages of Glomerular Filtration Rate and Albuminuria in Type 2 Diabetic Patients without Coronary Heart Disease

We aimed to clarify the usefulness of measuring the flow mediated dilatation (FMD) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus without and with coronary heart disease (CHD). The FMD was measured in 480 patients with type 2 diabetes and in 240 nondiabetic subjects. The FMD was significantly lower in the subjects with CHD (n = 145, 5.4 ± 3.2%) than in those without CHD (n = 95, 6.9 ± 3.5%) among the nondiabetic subjects. The FMD was also lower in the subjects both with CHD (n = 161, 5.6 ± 2.8%) and without CHD (n = 319, 6.1 ± 3.3%) among the patients with diabetes compared to those without both diabetes and CHD. The FMD showed a significant positive correlation with the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in the diabetic patients without CHD, while there was no significant association in those with CHD. The FMD was significantly lower with the progressive stages of the GFR or albuminuria in the patients without CHD among those with diabetes, although the FMD was not different in those with CHD. In conclusion, the FMD is considered to be useful for the detection of atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes, even if overt macroangiopathy is not diagnosed.

Subclinical carotid atherosclerosis and triglycerides predict the incidence of chronic kidney disease in the Japanese general population: results from the Kyushu and Okinawa Population Study (KOPS)

OBJECTIVE

To examine whether or not subclinical atherosclerosis independently predicts the incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the Japanese general population.

METHODS

This study is part of the Kyushu and Okinawa Population Study (KOPS), a survey of vascular events associated with lifestyle-related diseases. Participants who attended both baseline (2004-2007) and follow-up (2009-2012) examinations were eligible. The common carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) was assessed for each participant at baseline. The end point was the incidence of CKD, defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 60 mL/min/1.73 m(2) during the follow-up of participants without CKD at baseline.

RESULTS

During the five-year follow-up, 224 of the 1824 participants (12.3%) who developed CKD had higher carotid IMT (0.74 ± 0.22 vs. 0.65 ± 0.14 mm, P < 0.001), higher triglycerides (1.6 ± 0.8 vs. 1.3 ± 0.7 mmol/L, P < 0.001), and lower high density lipoprotein cholesterol (1.5 ± 0.4 vs. 1.6 ± 0.4 mmol/L, P < 0.001) at baseline than those who did not. In logistic regression analysis adjusted for significant covariates, eGFR (Odds ratio [OR] 0.83, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.80-0.85, P < 0.001), carotid IMT (0.10 mm increase: OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.04-1.33, P = 0.010), and triglycerides (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.06-1.73, P = 0.015) at baseline were independent predictors for the development of CKD.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher carotid IMT and hypertriglyceridemia were independently associated with the development of CKD in the population studied.

Association between Cardiac Autonomic Neuropathy, Diabetic Retinopathy and Carotid Atherosclerosis in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

BACKGROUND

It is not clear whether microangiopathies are associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We investigated the relation of cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) and other microangiopathies with carotid atherosclerosis in T2DM.

METHODS

A total of 131 patients with T2DM were stratified by mean carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) ≥ or <1.0 mm and the number of carotid plaques. CAN was assessed by the five standard cardiovascular reflex tests according to the Ewing's protocol. CAN was defined as the presence of at least two abnormal tests or an autonomic neuropathy points ≥2. Diabetic microangiopathies were assessed.

RESULTS

Patients with CAN comprised 77% of the group with mean CIMT ≥1.0 mm, while they were 29% of the group with CIMT <1.0 mm (P=0.016). Patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR) comprised 68% of the group with CIMT ≥1.0 mm, while they were 28% of the group without CIMT thickening (P=0.003). Patients with CAN comprised 51% of the group with ≥2 carotid plaques, while they were 23% of the group with ≤1 carotid plaque (P=0.014). In multivariable adjusted logistic regression analysis, the patients who presented with CAN showed an odds ratio [OR] of 8.6 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.6 to 44.8) for CIMT thickening and an OR of 2.9 (95% CI, 1.1 to 7.5) for carotid plaques. Furthermore, patients with DR were 3.8 times (95% CI, 1.4 to 10.2) more likely to have CIMT thickening.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that CAN is associated with carotid atherosclerosis, represented as CIMT and plaques, independent of the traditional cardiovascular risk factors in T2DM. CAN or DR may be a determinant of subclinical atherosclerosis in T2DM.

Microalbuminuria, but not reduced eGFR, is associated with cardiovascular subclinical organ damage in type 2 diabetes

AIM

This study explored the association between reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and microalbuminuria vs. subclinical organ damage in patients with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

Data from middle-aged patients with type 2 diabetes (n=706) treated in primary care were analyzed for microalbuminura, defined as a urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (uACR)≥3.0mmol/mol, and reduced eGFR, defined as<60mL/min/1.73m(2), in relation to blood pressure, pulse wave velocity (PWV), left ventricular mass index (LVMI), and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and lumen diameter (LD).

RESULTS

Patients with microalbuminuria had significantly higher 24-h ambulatory systolic blood pressure (ASBP) compared with subjects with uACR<3mg/mmol: 137 vs. 128mmHg (P<0.001). There were no differences in ASBP in patients with eGFR<60mL/min/1.73m(2). However, patients with vs. without microalbuminuria had increased PWV (11.4 vs. 10.1m/s; P<0.001), LVMI (134.4 vs. 118.6g/m(2); P<0.001), LD (7.01±0.93 vs. 6.46±0.74mm; P<0.001) and IMT (0.78 vs. 0.74mm; P=0.047), respectively. The associations between uACR vs. PWV and LVMI were more robust after adjusting for age, diabetes duration, ASBP, HbA1c, LDL-cholesterol, and antihypertensive and lipid-lowering therapy compared with uACR vs. IMT. There were no statistically significant differences in PWV, LVMI or IMT between patients with reduced (<60mL/min/1.73m(2)) vs. normal eGFR.

CONCLUSION

Levels of urinary albumin excretion, but not reduced eGFR, were associated with increased arterial stiffness, left ventricular mass and atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Low-grade albuminuria is associated with early but not late carotid atherosclerotic lesions in community-based patients with type 2 diabetes

BACKGROUND

Low-grade albuminuria is associated with cardiovascular risk factors and mortality. Our aim was to investigate the association between low-grade albuminuria and carotid atherosclerotic lesions in community-based patients with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was performed in 475 community-based patients with type 2 diabetes (190 males and 285 females) with normal urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratios (UACR) (< 3.5 mg/mmol) from Shanghai, China. The subjects were stratified into tertiles based on UACR levels (the lowest tertile was UACR ≤ 1.19 mg/mmol, and the highest tertile was UACR ≥ 2 mg/mmol). Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), carotid atherosclerotic plaque formation and stenosis were assessed and compared among the three groups based on ultrasonography. The urinary albumin excretion rate was determined as the mean of the values obtained from three separate early morning urine samples.

RESULTS

Compared with the subjects with UACR in the lowest tertile, the subjects with UACR in the middle and highest tertiles had greater CIMT values (0.88 ± 0.35 mm, 0.99 ± 0.43 mm and 1.04 ± 0.35 mm, respectively; all p < 0.05) and a higher prevalence of carotid atherosclerotic plaques (25.3%, 39.0% and 46.2%, respectively; all p < 0.05) after adjusting for sex and age. Fully adjusted multiple linear regression and logistic regression analyses revealed that UACR tertiles were significantly associated with elevated CIMT (p = 0.007) and that, compared with the subjects in the first tertile of UACR, those in the second and third tertiles had 1.878- and 2.028-fold risk of carotid plaques, respectively. However, there was no statistical association between UACR tertile and the prevalence of carotid stenosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher UACR within the normal range was independently associated with early but not late carotid atherosclerotic lesions in community-based patients with type 2 diabetes. Low-grade albuminuria contributes to the risk of carotid atherosclerosis and may be used as an early marker for the detection of atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes.

The Prevalence of the Risk Factors for Atherosclerosis among Type 2 Diabetic Patients Is Greater in the Progressive Stages of Chronic Kidney Disease

BACKGROUND/AIMS

The prevalence of the risk factors for atherosclerosis, other than diabetes mellitus, among type 2 diabetic patients with different stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD) determined by glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was investigated.

METHODS

The prevalence of ten risk factors (age ≥65 years, history of smoking, male gender, obesity, albuminuria, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, hypo-HDL-cholesterolemia, hyperuricemia and anemia) was determined in 2,107 Japanese type 2 diabetic patients with different stages of CKD (six stages according to GFR).

RESULTS

The risk factors for age ≥65 years and male gender were found in 49 and 62% of the study subjects, respectively. The percentages of subjects with a current history of smoking, obesity, albuminuria, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, hypo-HDL-cholesterolemia, hyperuricemia and anemia were 35, 44, 47, 70, 61, 13, 21 and 26%, respectively. The prevalence of age ≥65 years, male gender, albuminuria, hypertension, hypo-HDL-cholesterolemia, hyperuricemia and anemia was greater in the later stages of GFR, whereas the prevalence of hypercholesterolemia and obesity did not differ between stages. The prevalence of a current history of smoking was lower in the later stages of GFR. The cumulative number of risk factors increased from 3.1 to 6.8 in the later stages of GFR.

CONCLUSION

Among type 2 diabetic patients with CKD, the total number of risk factors increases with the progression of renal dysfunction. It is important to pay attention to newly recognized risk factors for hyperuricemia and anemia, in addition to hypertension, albuminuria and hypo-HDL-cholesterolemia, in monitoring diabetic patients with later stages of CKD.

Higher normal ranges of urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio are independently associated with carotid intima-media thickness

BACKGROUND

High normal values of urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) have been reported to have predictive values for hypertension, incident stroke, and higher mortality in the general population. This study aimed to investigate the association between normal ranges of UACR and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) in adult population.

METHODS

We performed a cross-sectional study in adults aged 45 to 74 years who were living in Namwon City, South Korea. Both common CIMTs were measured, and mean values were calculated. Normal values of UACR were defined as <30mg/g and categorized into quintiles; less than 6.50, 6.51-9.79, 9.80-13.49, 13.50-18.89, and more than 18.90 mg/g. The association between the quintiles of UACR and common CIMT was analyzed and stratified by sex.

RESULTS

A total of 7555 participants (3084 men and 4471 women) with normal UACR were enrolled in the present study. Common CIMT was positively and independently associated with increasing quintiles of UACR in men and women, even after adjusting for potential confounders including age and cardiovascular risk factors. Compared to the first quintile, the fifth quintile showed odds ratios of 1.80 (95% confidence intervals, 1.26-2.55) and 1.97 (1.28-3.04) for increased CIMT (>0.9mm) in men and women, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Higher UACR values within normal ranges (<30 mg/g) were positively and independently associated with CIMT in a Korean general population, suggesting that higher normal values of UACR might be a risk marker of subclinical carotid atherosclerosis.

The usefulness of the revised classification for chronic kidney disease by the KDIGO for determining the frequency of diabetic micro- and macroangiopathies in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

AIMS

A new classification of chronic kidney disease (CKD) was proposed by the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) in 2011. The major point of revision of this classification was the introduction of a two-dimensional staging of the CKD according to the level of albuminuria in addition to the GFR level. Furthermore, the previous CKD stage 3 was subdivided into two stages (G3a and G3b). We examined the prevalence of diabetic micro- and macroangiopathies in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus based on the new classification.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was performed in 2018 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

RESULTS

All of the diabetic micro- and macroangiopathies significantly more common in the later stages of both the GFR and albuminuria. The proportion of subjects with diabetic retinopathy, neuropathy, cerebrovascular disease and coronary heart disease was significantly higher in the G3b group than in the G3a group. The brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity, which is one of the surrogate markers for atherosclerosis, was also significantly greater in the G3b group compared to the G3a group.

CONCLUSION

The subdivision of the G3 stage in the revised classification proposed by the KDIGO is useful to evaluate the risk for diabetic vascular complications.

Association between microalbuminuria and subclinical atherosclerosis evaluated by carotid artery intima-media in elderly patients with normal renal function

Background

Moderate to severe renal insufficiency and albuminuria have been shown to be independent risk factors for atherosclerosis. However, little is known about the direct association between subclinical atherosclerosis evaluated by carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) and microalbuminuria in elderly patients with normal renal function.

Methods

Subjects were 272 elderly patients (age  ≥ 60 years) with normoalbuminuria (n = 238) and microalbuminuria (n = 34). Carotid IMT was measured by means of high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥ 60 ml/min/1.73 m² was defined as normal renal function. Those who had macroalbuminuria and atherosclerotic vascular disease were not included.

Results

Compared to subjects with normoalbuminuria, subjects with microalbuminuria had higher mean carotid IMT (1.02 ± 0.38 vs. 0.85 ± 0.28 mm; P < 0.01) and maximal IMT (1.86 ± 0.86 vs. 1.60 ± 0.73 mm; P = 0.06). By a multiple linear regression, microalbuminuria positively correlated with mean carotid IMT after adjusting for traditional cardiovascular disease risk factors including age, sex, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, total cholesterol, pulse pressure, waist circumference, serum uric acid. As a categorical outcome, the prevalence of the highest mean cariotid IMT quartile (increased IMT ≥ 1.05 mm) was compared with the lower three quartiles. After adjusted for potential confounders, microalbuminuria was associated with increased carotid IMT, with an odds ratio of 2.95 [95 % confidence interval, 1.22 – 7.10]. eGFR was not significantly associated with mean carotid IMT in our analysis.

Conclusions

A slight elevation of albuminuria is a significant determinant of carotid IMT independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors in our patients. Our study further confirms the importance of intensive examinations for the early detection of atherosclerosis when microalbuminuria is found in elderly patients, although with normal renal function.

Previous gestational diabetes is independently associated with increased carotid intima-media thickness, similarly to metabolic syndrome - a case control study

Background

Women with previous gestational diabetes mellitus (pGDM) face a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes and, consequently, a higher cardiovascular risk. This study aimed to compare the carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) from young women with pGDM to those with metabolic syndrome (MS) and to healthy controls (CG) to verify whether a past history of pGDM could be independently associated with increased cIMT.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional study performed in two academic referral centers. Seventy-nine women with pGDM, 30 women with MS, and 60 CG aged between 18 and 47 years were enrolled. They all underwent physical examination and had blood glucose, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc), and triglycerides determined. The cIMT was measured by ultrasound in several carotid segments. The primary endpoint was cIMT and clinically relevant parameters included as predictors were: age, systolic blood pressure, waist, BMI, total cholesterol, LDLc, triglycerides, fasting glucose, previous history of GDM as a whole group, previous history of GDM without MS, presence of DM, presence of MS, and parity.

Results

cIMT was significantly higher in pGDM when compared to CG in all sites of measurements (P < 0.05) except for the right common carotid. The pGDM women showed similar cIMT measurements to MS in all sites of measurements, except for the left carotid bifurcation, where it was significantly higher than MS (P < 0.001). In a multivariate analysis which included classical cardiovascular risk factors and was adjusted for confounders, pGDM was shown to be independently associated with increased composite cIMT (P < 0.01). The pGDM without risk factors further showed similar cIMT to MS (P > 0.05) and an increased cIMT when compared to controls (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Previous GDM was independently associated with increased composite cIMT in this young population, similarly to those with MS and regardless the presence of established cardiovascular risk factors.

Hyperuricemia is independently associated with coronary heart disease and renal dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

AIMS

To investigate the relationship between hyperuricemia (HUA) and the clinical backgrounds in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

METHODS

After a cross-sectional study evaluating the association of HUA with the clinical characteristics in 1,213 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and the incidence of diabetic macroangiopathies was investigated in a prospective observational study in 1,073 patients during a 3.5 year period. HUA was defined by serum uric acid levels >327 μmol/L or as patients using allopurinol.

RESULTS

The frequency of HUA was significantly higher in the diabetic patients (32% in men and 15% in women) than in the normal controls (14% in men and 1% in women). In total, HUA was found in 299 (25%) of the patients during the cross-sectional study. Even after adjusting for sex, drinking status, treatment for diabetes mellitus, body mass index, hypertension, use of diuretics, hyperlipidemia, HbA1c and/or the eGFR, the HUA was independently associated with some diabetic complications. The eGFR was significantly reduced in HUA patients compared to those with normouricemia in the 12 months after observation was started. HUA was also an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease even after adjustment in the Cox proportional hazard model.

CONCLUSIONS

HUA is a associated with diabetic micro- and macroangiopathies. HUA is a predictor of coronary heart disease and renal dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, the influence of HUA is considered to be limited.

Concomitant renal insufficiency and diabetes mellitus as prognostic factors for acute myocardial infarction

Background

Diabetes mellitus and renal dysfunction are prognostic factors after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, few studies have assessed the effects of renal insufficiency in association with diabetes in the context of AMI. Here, we investigated the clinical outcomes according to the concomitance of renal dysfunction and diabetes mellitus in patients with AMI.

Methods

From November 2005 to August 2008, 9905 patients (63 ± 13 years; 70% men) with AMI were enrolled in a nationwide prospective Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry (KAMIR) and were categorized into 4 groups: Group I (n = 5700) had neither diabetes nor renal insufficiency (glomerular filtration rate [GFR] ≥ 60 ml/min/1.73 m²), Group II (n = 1730) had diabetes but no renal insufficiency, Group III (n = 1431) had no diabetes but renal insufficiency, and Group IV (n = 1044) had both diabetes and renal insufficiency. The primary endpoints were major adverse cardiac events (MACE), including a composite of all cause-of-death, myocardial infarction, target lesion revascularization, and coronary artery bypass graft after 1-year clinical follow-up.

Results

Primary endpoints occurred in 1804 (18.2%) patients. There were significant differences in composite MACE among the 4 groups (Group I, 12.5%; Group II, 15.7%; Group III, 30.5%; Group IV, 36.5%; p < 0.001). In a Cox proportional hazards model, after adjusting for multiple covariates, the 1-year mortality increased stepwise from Group III to IV as compared with Group I (hazard ratio [HR], 1.96; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.34-2.86; p = 0.001; and HR, 2.42; 95% CI, 1.62-3.62; p < 0.001, respectively). However, Kaplan-Meier analysis showed no significant difference in probability of death at 1 year between Group III and IV (p = 0.288).

Conclusions

Renal insufficiency, especially in association with diabetes, is associated with the occurrence of composite MACE and indicates poor prognosis in patients with AMI. Categorization of patients with diabetes and/or renal insufficiency provides valuable information for early-risk stratification of AMI patients.

Yearly evolution of organ damage markers in diabetes or metabolic syndrome: data from the LOD-DIABETES study

Background

Cardiovascular disease morbidity-mortality is greater in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus or metabolic syndrome. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the yearly evolution of organ damage markers in diabetes or metabolic syndrome, and to analyze the associated factors.

Methods

An observational prospective study was carried out in the primary care setting, involving 112 patients: 68 diabetics and 44 subjects with metabolic syndrome, subjected to 12 months of follow-up. Measurements: traditional cardiovascular risk factors (blood pressure, blood glucose, lipids, smoking, body mass index (BMI) and) and non-traditional risk factors (waist circumference, hsC Reactive Protein and fibrinogen); subclinical vascular (carotid intima-media thickness, pulse wave velocity and ankle/brachial index), cardiac (Cornell voltage-duration product), renal organ damage (creatinine, glomerular filtration and albumin/creatinine index), and antihypertensive and lipid-lowering drugs.

Results

At baseline, the diabetics presented a mean age of 59.9 years, versus 55.2 years in the subjects with metabolic syndrome (p = 0.03). Diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol were lower among the patients with diabetes, while blood glucose and HbA1c, as well as antihypertensive and lipid-lowering drug use, were greater. At evaluation after one year, the diabetics showed a decrease in BMI (-0.39), diastolic blood pressure (-3.59), and an increase in fibrinogen (30.23 mg/dL), ankle/brachial index (0.07) and the number of patients with ankle/brachial index pathologic decreased in 6. In turn, the patients with metabolic syndrome showed an increase in HDL-cholesterol (1-91 mg/dL), fibrinogen (25.54 mg/dL), Cornell voltage-duration product (184.22 mm/ms), ankle/brachial index (0.05) and the use of antihypertensive and lipid-lowering drugs, and a reduction in serum glucose (3.74 mg/dL), HOMA, systolic (-6.76 mmHg), diastolic blood pressure (-3.29 mmHg), and pulse wave velocity (-0.72 m/s). The variable that best predicted a decrease in pulse wave velocity in subjects with metabolic syndrome was seen to be an increase in antihypertensive drug use.

Conclusions

The annual assessment of cardiovascular risk factors and the decrease in pulse wave velocity was more favorable in the patients with metabolic syndrome, probably influenced by the increased percentage of subjects treated with antihypertensive and lipid lowering drugs in this group.

Pioglitazone delays proximal tubule dysfunction and improves cerebral vessel endothelial dysfunction in normoalbuminuric people with type 2 diabetes mellitus

AIM

The renal and cerebral protective effects of pioglitazone were assessed in normoalbuminuric patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM).

METHODS

A total of 68 normoalbuminuric type 2 DM patients were enrolled in a one-year open-label randomized controlled trial: 34 patients (pioglitazone-metformin) vs. 34 patients (glimepiride-metformin). All patients were assessed concerning urinary albumin: creatinine ratio (UACR), urinary alpha1-microglobulin, urinary beta2-microglobulin, plasma asymmetric dymethyl-arginine (ADMA), GFR, hsC-reactive protein, fibrinogen, HbA1c; pulsatility index, resistance index in the internal carotid artery and middle cerebral artery, intima-media thickness in the common carotid artery; cerebrovascular reactivity was evaluated through the breath-holding test.

RESULTS

At 1 year there were differences between groups regarding ADMA, urinary beta2-microglobulin, urinary alpha1-microglobulin, parameters of inflammation, serum creatinine, GFR, UACR, the cerebral haemodynamic indices. Significant correlations were found between alpha 1-microglobulin-UACR (R(2)=0.143; P=0.001) and GFR (R(2)=0.081; P=0.01); beta2-microglobulin-UACR (R(2)=0.241; P=0.0001) and GFR (R(2)=0.064; P=0.036); ADMA-GFR (R(2)=0.338; P=0.0001), parameters of inflammation, HbA1c, duration of DM, cerebral indices. There were no correlations between ADMA-UACR, urinary alpha1-microglobulin and beta2-microglobulin.

CONCLUSION

Proximal tubule (PT) dysfunction precedes albuminuria and is dissociated from endothelial dysfunction in patients with type 2 DM. Pioglitazone delays PT dysfunction and improves cerebral vessels endothelial dysfunction in normoalbuminuric patients with type 2 DM.

Osteoprotegerin and coronary artery disease in type 2 diabetic patients with microalbuminuria

Objective

Plasma osteoprotegerin (P-OPG) is an independent predictor of cardiovascular disease in diabetic and other populations. OPG is a bone-related glycopeptide produced by vascular smooth muscle cells and increased P-OPG may reflect arterial damage. We investigated the correlation between P-OPG and coronary artery disease (CAD) in asymptomatic type 2 diabetic patients with microalbuminuria.

Methods

P-OPG was measured in 200 asymptomatic diabetic patients without known cardiac disease. Patients with P-NT-proBNP >45.2 ng/l and/or coronary calcium score (CCS) ≥400 were stratified as high risk of CAD (n = 133), and all other patients as low risk patients (n = 67). High risk patients were examined by myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI; n = 109), and/or CT-angiography (n = 20), and/or coronary angiography (CAG; n = 86). Significant CAD was defined by presence of significant myocardial perfusion defects at MPI and/or >70% coronary artery stenosis at CAG.

Results

Significant CAD was demonstrated in 70 of the high risk patients and of these 23 patients had >70% coronary artery stenosis at CAG. Among high risk patients, increased P-OPG was an independent predictor of significant CAD (adjusted odds ratio [CI] 3.11 [1.01-19.54] and 3.03 [1.00-9.18] for second and third tertile vs.first tertile P-OPG, respectively) and remained so after adjustments for NT-proBNP and CCS. High P-OPG was also associated with presence of >70% coronary artery stenosis(adjusted odds ratio 14.20 [1.35-148.92] for third vs. first tertile P-OPG), and 91% of patients with low (first tertile) P-OPG did not have >70% coronary artery stenosis.

Conclusions

Elevated P-OPG is an independent predictor of the presence of CAD in asymptomatic type 2 diabetic patients with microalbuminuria.

Heart-type fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP): relationship with arterial intima-media thickness and role as diagnostic marker for atherosclerosis in patients with ımpaired glucose metabolism

BACKGROUND

Heart type fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP) has been closely associated with acute coronary syndrome, cardiac abnormalities, stroke, and obstructive sleep disorder in previous studies. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the serum H-FABP levels and carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT) between patients with prediabetes and control subjects.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We measured serum H-FABP levels in 58 prediabetic patients, 29 with impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and 29 with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and 28 age-, sex- and body mass index-matched control subjects using a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and in order to measure CIMT, all participants underwent high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography.

RESULTS

Serum H-FABP levels were significantly elevated in pre-diabetic patients when compared with that of control subjects (IFG: 32.5 ± 34.2 ng/dL, IGT: 45.4 ± 45.8 ng/dL, control: 16.8 ± 14.9 ng/dL; p = 0.011). The difference in means of H-FABP levels between patients with IGT or IFG and control subjects was significant (p = 0.010 and p = 0.009, respectively). CIMT was higher in the pre-diabetic groups compared with the control group (IFG: 0.6 ± 0.1, IGT: 0.6 ± 0.1, control: 0.5 ± 0.1; p < 0.001), and H-FABP level was positively correlated with CIMT (p < 0.001, rho = 0.626).

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate that patients with pre-diabetes are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease. In addition, serum H-FABP levels could represent a useful marker for myocardial performance in patients with IFG and IGT.

Low serum amylase in association with metabolic syndrome and diabetes: A community-based study

BACKGROUND

Low serum amylase levels may reflect impaired exocrine-endocrine relationship in the pancreas. However, few clinical studies have addressed this issue. Therefore, in this epidemiological study, we investigated whether low serum amylase was associated with the pathogenesis of impaired insulin action: metabolic syndrome (MetS) and diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Serum amylase, cardiometabolic risk factors, MetS (Adult Treatment Panel III criteria), and diabetes were examined in 2,425 asymptomatic subjects aged 30-80 years who underwent medical checkups recently (April 2009-March 2010) and 5 years ago.

RESULTS

Clinical variables, except for age and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), shifted favorably with increasing serum amylase levels. Plasma glucose levels at 1- and 2-hr during OGTT increased significantly with decreasing serum amylase levels. Multiple logistic analyses showed that, compared with highest quartile of serum amylase, lowest quartile was associated with increased risk for MetS and diabetes after adjustment for confounding factors [odds ratio (95% CI), 2.07 (1.39-3.07) and 2.76 (1.49-5.11), respectively]. In subjects who underwent checkups 5 years ago (n = 571), lower amylase at the previous checkup were associated with larger numbers of metabolic abnormalities at the recent checkup. The fluctuation over time in serum amylase levels in subjects with low serum amylase at the previous checkup was slight and was unaffected by kidney dysfunction.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that low serum amylase is associated with increased risk of metabolic abnormalities, MetS and diabetes. These results suggest a pancreatic exocrine-endocrine relationship in certain clinical conditions.

Relationship between intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery and arterial stiffness in subjects with and without type 2 diabetes: a case-series report

BACKGROUND

We examined the relationship between the intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery (CCA-IMT) and arterial stiffness, assessed by pulse wave velocity (PWV), the ambulatory arterial stiffness index (AASI) and the augmentation index (AIx) in subjects with and without type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

A case-series study was made in 366 patients (105 diabetics and 261-non-diabetics). Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was performed on a day of standard activity with the SpaceLabs 90207 system. AASI was calculated as "1-slope" from the within-person regression of diastolic-on-systolic ambulatory blood pressure readings. PWV and AIx were measured with the SphygmoCor system, and a Sonosite Micromax ultrasound unit was used for automatic measurements of CCA-IMT.

RESULTS

PWV, AASI and CCA-IMT were found to be greater in diabetic patients, while no differences in AIx were observed between the two groups. CCA-IMT was independently correlated to the three measures of arterial stiffness in both groups. We found an increase in CCA-IMT of 0.40, 0.24 and 0.36 mm in diabetics, and of 0.48, 0.17 and 0.55 mm in non-diabetics for each unit increase in AASI, AIx and PWV. The variability of CCA-IMT was explained mainly by AASI, AIx and gender in diabetic patients, and by age, gender, AASI and PWV in non-diabetic patients.

CONCLUSIONS

CCA-IMT showed a positive correlation to PWV, AASI and AIx in subjects with and without type 2 diabetes. However, when adjusting for age, gender and heart rate, the association to PWV was lost in diabetic patients, in the same way as the association to Alx in non-diabetic patients. The present study demonstrates that the three measures taken to assess arterial stiffness in clinical practice are not interchangeable, nor do they behave equally in all subjects.

Incretin-based therapies in complex patients: practical implications and opportunities for maximizing clinical outcomes: a discussion with Dr. Vivian A. Fonseca

Elderly patients and patients with renal impairment present unique challenges in the management of diabetes mellitus. Impaired renal function is a common comorbidity (or complication) associated with type 2 diabetes, as well as a complicating factor in the treatment of the disease. Renal insufficiency, which can result in elevated plasma concentrations of pharmaceutical agents, may preclude the use of some antihyperglycemic medications and require that the dosages of others be reduced. Failure to select and dose medications carefully in these patients may increase the risk of hypoglycemia and other adverse effects. For example, elevated plasma concentrations of some sulfonylureas may increase the risk of hypoglycemia. Because patients with chronic renal insufficiency tend to retain fluids, treatment with a thiazolidinedione--a class of agents associated with fluid retention--may exacerbate the risk of edema. Older patients with type 2 diabetes--like patients with renal insufficiency an important and populous subgroup--also have issues with therapy selection and dosing regimens. As a result of the effects of aging on kidney function, older patients may also be subject to elevated plasma levels with consequent additional risk of hypoglycemia and other adverse events. Because older patients tend to be treated with multiple medications for multiple comorbidities, it becomes challenging to design regimens that avoid or reduce the risk of drug-drug interactions. For both older patients and patients with chronic renal insufficiency, the most important drug-related adverse effect to avoid is hypoglycemia. Accordingly, incretin-based agents have an advantage because they are unlikely to cause hypoglycemia.

Renal protection in diabetes: lessons from ONTARGET

Hypertension is an important independent risk factor for renal disease. If hypertension and chronic renal disease co-exist, as is common in patients with diabetes mellitus, the risk of cardiovascular disease is heightened. The importance of rigorous blood pressure control is recognized in current guidelines, with a recommended target of office blood pressure of < 130/80 mmHg; although ambulatory blood pressure may be more appropriate in order to identify the 24-hour hypertensive burden. Even lower blood pressure may further reduce the progression of chronic kidney disease, but the incidence of cardiovascular events may increase. Albuminuria not only indicates renal damage, but is also a powerful predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality at least in patients with high cardiovascular risk and potentially pre-existing vascular damage. Management of the multiple factors for renal and cardiovascular disease is mandatory in the diabetic patient. The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) plays a pivotal role in the progression of renal disease, as well as in hypertension and target-organ damage. The use of agents that target the RAS confer renoprotection in addition to antihypertensive activity. There is extensive evidence of the renoprotective effect of angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), and specifically telmisartan. In addition to providing 24-hour blood pressure control, clinical studies in patients with diabetes show that telmisartan improves renal endothelial function, prevents progression from microalbuminuria to macroalbuminuria, slows the decline in glomerular filtration rate and reduces proteinuria in overt nephropathy. These effects cannot be solely attributed to blood pressure control. In contrast to other members of the ARB class, the renoprotective effect of telmisartan is not confined to the management of diabetic nephropathy; slowing the progression of albuminuria has been demonstrated in the ONgoing Telmisartan Alone and in combination with Ramipril Global Endpoint Trial (ONTARGET), which included diabetic and non-diabetic patients at high risk of cardiovascular events.

Carotid intima-media thickness in individuals with and without type 2 diabetes: a reproducibility study

Background

The use of carotid intima-media thickness (carotid IMT) as a surrogate marker of cardiovascular disease is increasing and the method has now also been applied in several trials investigating patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Even though knowledge about methodology is of highest importance in order to make accurate power calculations and analyses of results, no reproducibility studies have been performed in this group of patients. The aim of this study was to quantify the variability of the measurement of carotid IMT in individuals with and without T2D.

Methods

We used B-mode ultrasound and a computerized software programme (MIA vascular tools) for analysis of carotid IMT. Measurement of carotid IMT in the far wall of the common carotid artery (CCA) was done for 30 patients with T2D and 30 persons without T2D. The examinations were done by two different sonographers and two different readers on two separate days in order to quantify sonographer-, reader-, and day-to-day variability.

Results

Comparisons of measurement of carotid IMT in CCA between sonographers (sonographer variability) resulted in limits of agreement (LoA) from -0.18 to 0.13 mm for patients with T2D and -0.12 to 0.10 mm for persons without T2D. This means, that a second scanning of the same person with 95% probability would be within this interval of the first scanning. Comparisons between readers assessing the same scanning (reader variability) resulted in LoA from -0.05 to 0.07 mm and -0.04 to 0.05 mm respectively. LoA of the day-to-day variability was -0.13 to 0.18 mm and -0.09 to 0.18 mm respectively. This corresponds to coefficients of variations (CV) of the sonographer- and day-to-day variability of 10% in patients with T2D and 8% in persons without T2D. The CV of the reader variability was 4% and 3% respectively.

Conclusion

Measurement of carotid IMT in the CCA can be determined with good and comparable reproducibility in both patients with T2D and persons without T2D. These findings support the use of carotid IMT in clinical trials with T2D patients and suggest that the numbers of patients needed to detect a given difference will be the same whether the patients have T2D or not.