Adiponectin as a marker of complications in type I diabetes.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate adiponectin levels in children and adolescents with type I diabetes, and their relationship to long term complications.

DESIGN

Cross sectional.

SETTING

Tertiary referral hospital, Cairo, Egypt.

PARTICIPANTS

Thirty children and adolescents with type I diabetes mellitus, classified into complicated and non-complicated and compared to 10 healthy age and sex matched subjects as a control group.

METHODS

All children underwent anthropometric measurements, neurological assessment, fundus examination, echocardiography and assays of HbA1c, creatinine, 24-hr urinary protein, and serum adiponectin.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Relationship of serum adiponectin to complications of type I diabetes mellitus, and glucose control.

RESULTS

Serum adiponectin was significantly elevated in complicated diabetes (10.3 ± 5.9 pg/dL) as compared to the controls (6.5 ± 3.7 pg/dL) (P<0.01), and correlated directly with HbA1c (P<0.05) and creatinine (P<0.001). Patients with nephropathy showed high values of adiponectin (15.7 ± 3.7 pg/dL).

CONCLUSION

Elevated adiponectin level in children and adolescents with type I diabetes indicates poor glycemic control and development of complications, especially nephropathy.