Diabetes Care, Vol 19, Issue 2 130-134, Copyright © 1996 by American Diabetes Association
Raised serum sialic acid concentration in NIDDM patients with and without diabetic nephropathy
J Chen, MA Gall, H Yokoyama, JS Jensen, M Deckert and HH Parving
Steno Diabetes Center, Gentofte, Denmark.
OBJECTIVE: Raised serum sialic acid concentration is a strong predictor of
cardiovascular mortality in the general white population. A progressive
increase in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality takes place in relation
to increasing albuminuria in NIDDM patients. Therefore, we investigated the
potential association between serum sialic acid and micro- and
macroangiopathy in NIDDM patients. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We studied
a prevalence cohort of all white NIDDM patients < 76 years of age
attending a diabetic clinic during 1 year. Of the patients, 319 had
normoalbuminuria, 148 had microalbuminuria, and 75 had macroalbuminuria
(diabetic nephropathy was in 47 of 75 patients); 66 nondiabetic age- and
sex-matched subjects acted as a control group. Blood samples were taken for
measurements of sialic acid, lipids, creatinine, and HbA1C. Retinopathy was
assessed by funduscopy. The prevalence of cardiovascular disease was based
on Minnesota-coded electrocardiograms and the World Health Organization
cardiovascular questionnaire. RESULTS: A progressive raise in serum sialic
acid was demonstrated with an increasing urinary albumin excretion rate:
[median (range)] 2.02 (1.55-2.63); 2.42 (1.47-6.48); 2.67 (1.57-5.86), and
2.95 (1.52-7.86) mmol/l in nondiabetic subjects, NIDDM patients with
normoalbuminuria, microalbuminuria, and diabetic nephropathy, respectively
(P < 0.05 or less for differences between groups). Multiple linear
regression analysis showed that serum cholesterol concentration, serum HDL
cholesterol concentration, BMI, albuminuria, smoking, and cardiovascular
disease correlate independently with logarithmic (10) serum sialic acid
concentration. CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed a progressive raise in serum
sialic acid with increasing urinary albumin excretion rate in NIDDM
patients. Furthermore, several modifiable cardiovascular risk factors were
associated with serum sialic acid.