INCREASED SERUM LEVELS OF ADVANCED GLYCATION END-PRODUCTS (AGES) IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH IDDM

OBJECTIVE - To investigate whether the serum levels of advanced glycat ion end products (AGEs) are increased in IDDM children and adolescents and to study the effect of puberty on serum levels of AGEs (S-AGEs). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS - A total of 68 children and adolescent ID DM patients (age, 13.3 +/- 4.0 years; duration of diabetes, 5.0 +/- 3. 6 years; HbA(1c), 8.2 +/- 2.0%; Tanner stage [pubic hair], 1 vs. 2-5, 24/42) recruited from the pediatric outpatient clinic at Aker Universi ty Hospital were compared with 25 healthy nondiabetic control subjects . S-AGEs were measured by a fluoremetric immunoassay. RESULTS - S-AGEs were significantly elevated in the diabetic group when compared with the control group (14.4 +/- 3.5 vs. 11.7 +/- 3.0 U/ml, P < 0.002). A s ignificant correlation (r = 0.26, P < 0.04) was found between S-AGEs a nd HbA(1c) in the diabetic group but not in the control group. No sign ificant correlation was found between S-AGEs and the duration of diabe tes in the diabetic group or S-AGEs and blood glucose concentration or age in either group. We found no difference between S-AGEs in boys an d girls and in prepubertal and pubertal diabetic or control subjects. CONCLUSIONS - S-AGEs are increased in young patients with diabetes bef ore puberty: Since AGEs are linked to the pathogenesis of vascular com plications, this observation suggests that the pathological processes leading to diabetic late complications start even before puberty.