Study of serum progranulin level and its relation to microvascular complications in subjects with type 1 diabetes mellitus
Abstract
Background. Progranulin is expressed in various cells
including adipocytes. Having an important role in
inflammation, it could participate to development of
diabetes and its complications. We aimed at assessing
serum progranulin level in subjects with type 1 diabetes
mellitus (T1DM) and its relation to microvascular
complications.
Methods. 80 subjects were included: 40 subjects with
T1DM with a disease duration of more than 5 years, 20
subjects with newly diagnosed T1DM, and 20 healthy
subjects as a control. Microvascular complications were
assessed by clinical examination and investigations.
Results. The mean serum progranulin level was
significantly higher in T1DM subjects with disease
duration more than 5 years (77.2 ± 159.8) and those
with disease duration less than one year (12.8 ± 16.0)
comparing to healthy controls (p = 0.009, p = 0.032,
respectively). However, no significant difference was
found in the mean serum progranulin between the
two diabetic groups (p 0.883). Serum progranulin level
was significantly higher in patients with retinopathy
(p ≤ 0.001), nephropathy (p = 0.002) and neuropathy
(p = 0.007). However, in multivariate regression analysis
serum progranulin was not independently associated
with microvascular complications of diabetes.
Conclusion. Serum progranulin is higher in T1DM than
control and was not independently associated with
diabetic microvascular complications.
Keywords: diabetes mellitusmicrovascular complicationsprogranulinT1DM