Advanced glycation end products in adolescents and young adults with diabetic angiopathy

The aim of this study was to evaluate serum advanced glycation end products (S-AGEs) in a group of adolescents and young adults with type 1 (insulin-d ependent) diabetes mellitus and with diabetic microvascular complications ( nephropathy or retinopathy). Fifty-two patients were included in the study (age range 14.2-28.8 years, onset of diabetes before the age of 12 years, d uration of diabetes longer than 7 years); 45 patients without diabetic angi opathy and 63 healthy controls were also selected. S-AGEs were significantl y increased in patients with diabetic angiopathy compared with controls (19 .9+/-3.8 vs. 11.8+/-2.8 U/ml, P<0.001). Higher S-AGE levels were found in p atients with severe diabetic nephropathy and retinopathy, When the albumin excretion rate (AER) was >100 mu g/min per 1.73 m(2), S-AGE levels were 23. 1+/-2.4 U/ml; when the AER was 50-100 mu g/min per 1.73 m(2) levels were 19 .8+/-1.9 U/ml, and for an AER of 20-50 mu g/min per 1.73 m(2) the correspon ding value was 16.1+/-2.1 U/ml (P<0.005). Patients with proliferative retin opathy had S-AGE levels of 22.2+/-2.6 U/ml, those with preproliferative ret inopathy 20.7+/-2.2 U/ml, and background retinopathy 17.6+/-1.9 U/ml (P<0.0 1). A significant correlation was found between levels of glycosylated hemo globin (HbA(1c)) and S-AGE (r=0.43, P<0.01), S-ACE concentrations are marke dly increased in type 1 diabetic adolescents and young adults with dia beti c nephropathy and retinopathy. The severity of diabetic angiopathy is relat ed to the serum levels of AGEs.