Angiogenin in middle-aged type 1 diabetes patients

Background: Angiogenin levels are increased in children and adolescent patients with type 1 diabetes, regardless of the extent of diabetic microangiopathy. However, little is known about the angiogenin concentrations in adults with type 1 diabetes. Thus we studied its level in middle aged subjects with the presence of diabetic nephro-, retino and neuropathy.

Methods: We investigated the data of 57 (age 39±6.6 years, 45.6% of males) patients with type 1 diabetes and 38 age-matched control subjects without diabetes (age 37.1±5.9 years, 42.1% of males), including medical histories, evidences of microangiopathy and serum angiogenin concentrations.

Results: Serum angiogenin level was lower in patients with type 1 diabetes [384.2(190.4-999.8) ng/ml] compared to controls [460.4(230.6-708.2) ng/ml], p=0.04. In patients with overt diabetic nephropathy the angiogenin level was higher when compared to patients without nephropathy [568.2(269.6-999.8) vs 369.4(190.4-999.8) ng/ml, p=0.01]. There were no differences between angiogenin levels in subgroups of patients distinguished by the presence of other microvascular complications or other concomitant vascular risk factors despite cigarette smoking [smokers: 516.2(294.4-999.8) vs. non-smokers: 372.1(190.4-924.8) ng/ml, p=0.01].

Conclusions: Regardless of the presence of diabetic microangiopathy, angiogenin level in middle-aged type 1 diabetes patients is lower than in controls. The presence of overt nephropathy and smoking habit in middle-aged patients with type 1 diabetes are associated with higher angiogenin level.