Fibronectin and diabetes mellitus: factors that influence its plasmatic concentrations and usefulness as a marker of late complications

BACKGROUND: The usefulness of plasma fibronectin (FNp) as a marker of late diabetic complications is controversial. The aim of the study was to assess the influence of several variables on FNp in diabetic patients and to dete rmine its usefulness as a marker of late diabetic complications. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 79 diabetic patients randomly selected were included in the study. The clinical variables considered were: age, gender, body mas s index (BMI), tobacco and alcohol consumption, type, duration and treatmen t of diabetes, hypertension, and diabetic late complications (macroangiopat hy, retinopathy, nephropathy and neuropathy). The laboratory variables anal yzed were: blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, total cholesterol, HDL-chole sterol, LDL-cholesterol, tryglicerides, apolipoprotein Al, apolipoprotein B , microalbuminuria, creatinin and FNp, Statistical study included a multipl e regression analysis taking FNp as the dependent variable. RESULTS: A direct correlation between FNp and BMI and also with tryglicerid es was observed (r = 0.362; P = 0.002, and r = 0.234; p = 0.038, respective ly). Higher levels of FNp were found in type 2 diabetic patients in compari son with type 1 (464 [SD, 127] versus 395 [SD, 96] mg/dl; p = 0.014). This difference was due to the higher BMI and tryglicerides concentrations obser ved in type 2 diabetic patients in comparison with type 1 (28,61 [SD, 4.67] versus 22.56 [SD, 2,.19] kg/m(2); p < 0.001, and 4.24 [SD, 2.36] versus 2. 52 [SD, 1.40] mmol/l, respectively). Multiple regression analysis showed th at only BMI significantly influenced on FNp concentrations (r = 0.330; p = 0.004). No relation among FNp and late diabetic complications and other var iables considered in the study was observed. CONCLUSIONS: FNp is not a useful marker of diabetic late complications and its concentrations are direct and independly influenced by BMI.