SERUM CONCENTRATIONS OF LAMININ-P1 IN DIABETES-MELLITUS - USEFULNESS AS AN INDEX OF DIABETIC MICROANGIOPATHY

Objective: To assess the influence of several variables On serum lamin in-P1 (Lam-PI) and to evaluate its usefulness as a serum marker of dia betic microangiopathy. Material and methods: We determined Lam-P1 by s erum radioimmunoassay in 121 controls and 176 diabetic patients, 58 ty pe 1 (insulin dependent) and 118 type (non-insulin dependent), grouped according to retinal status and urinary albumin excretion. The variab les evaluated were: age, gender, body mass index, blood pressure, cons umption of tobacco and alcohol, type of diabetes, duration of disease, fasting blood glucose, HbA(1), cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-chol esterol, triglycerides and apolipoproteins (A(1),B). Imprecision for l aminin determination was: 3.6% intrassay; 5.8% interassay. Statistics: Student's t-test, ANOVA, ANCOVA, and multiple regression analysis. Re sults: In diabetic patients Lam-P1 was higher than in controls (X = 1. 63 +/- S.D. 0.36 vs. X = 1.40 +/- S.D. 0.18 U ml(-1); P < 0.001) and o nly correlated with age (P = 0.002), Lam-P1 was higher in diabetics wi th proliferative retinopathy than in patients with non-proliferative r etinopathy and without retinopathy (X = 2.17 +/- S.D. 0.49 U ml(-1) vs . X = 1.71 +/- S.D. 0.22 U ml(-1) vs. X = 1.47 +/- S.D. 0.26 U ml(-1); P < 0.001). Patients with macroalbuminuria presented higher serum Lam -P1 than patients with micro or normoalbuminuria (X = 2.39 +/- S.D. 0. 53 U ml(-1) vs. X = 1.78 +/- S.D. 0.23 U ml(-1) vs. X = 1.51 +/- S.D. 0.29 U ml(-1); P < 0.001), These differences remained significative wh en patients were age-adjusted. Conclusions: Lam-P1 could be useful as an index of diabetic microangiopathy but patient's age should be consi dered.