Serum UDP-galactose: glycoprotein galactosyltransferase in diabetics with microangiopathy.

1. Levels of serum UDP-galactose:glycoprotein galactosyltransferase in 117 unselected diabetics were compared with those in 60 non-diabetic healthy controls. 2. Enzyme activity (mean +/- 2 S.D.) of control sera was found to be 90.2 +/- 21.5 etamoles/ml/hr at 37 degrees. In 30 of the 117 diabetic sera (26%) enzyme activity was elevated (greater than mean + 2 S.D. of the controls). Sixteen of 19 (84%) patients with retinopathy, 16 of 26 (62%) patients with peripheral vasculopathy and 13 of 26 (50%) patients with neuropathy had higher levels of serum enzyme. When serum enzyme levels of groups of diabetics with retinopathy, peripheral vasculopathy and neuropathy were compared with the enzyme level in all diabetics, there was a significant difference with p values of 0.001, 0.05 and 0.05 respectively.