Connection between the Plasma Level of Apelin and Diabetic Nephropathy in Type 2 Diabetic Patients. A Case Control Study
Mona Yousry Helmy, Nehal A. Hamdy, Nagwa Mohamed
Abstract
Background: Apelin is an adipokine that may have an advantageous role in the prediction of early diabetic nephropathy. A few studies on apelin in diabetes have been performed and this research was performed to establish the connection between the apelinergic system and diabetic nephropathy. Materials and Methods: The research included 60 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who were equally divided into Group-I (diabetic nephropathy) and Group-II (non-diabetic nephropathy), and 30 healthy subjects in the control group (Group-III). Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference were calculated. FBG, 2 h–PPG, HbA1c, fasting lipids, urea, creatinine, eGFR, urine analysis, A/C ratio, and apelin levels were assessed. Results: A statistically significant between-group difference in plasma apelin levels was found ( P < 0.001). Apelin was the highest in Group-I than in Group-II relative to Group-III (325.79 ± 59.42 pg/mL, 162.83 ± 29.88 pg/mL, and 77.43 ± 8.44 pg/mL, respectively). Among diabetic patients, plasma apelin had a significantly positive correlation with disease duration ( r = 0.612), SBP ( r = 0.427), DBP ( r = 0.466), weight ( r = 0.372), and height ( r = 0.372), FBG ( r = 0.684), 2 h-PPG ( r = 0.744), HbA1C ( r = 0.890), total (T)-cholesterol ( r = 0.316), low density lipoprotein (LDL)-C ( r = 0.397), urea ( r = 0.575), and creatinine ( r = 0.591). A significantly negative correlation was observed between plasma apelin and HDL-C ( r = –0.303), and eGFR ( r = –0.566). Conclusion: Apelin levels in diabetics were elevated in the case of nephropathy, impaired glucose tolerance, and dyslipidemia. This supports the relationship between the apelinergic system and diabetic nephropathy.