Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome

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Plasma Adrenomedullin level in Egyptian children and Adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus: relationship to microvascular complications

Safinaz A El-Habashy1, Randa M Matter1*, Eman S El-Hadidi2 and Hala R Afifi1

Author Affiliations

1 Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo 11566, Egypt

2 Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo 11566, Egypt

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Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome 2010, 2:12 doi:10.1186/1758-5996-2-12

Published: 10 February 2010

Abstract

Background

Adrenomedullin (AM) is known to be elevated in different clinical situations including diabetes mellitus (DM), but its potential role in the pathogenesis of vascular complications in diabetic children and adolescents is to be clarified. Hence, the study aimed at assessment of plasma adrenomedullin levels in children and adolescents with type 1 DM and correlation of these levels with metabolic control and diabetic microvascular complications (MVC).

Methods

The study was performed in the Diabetes Specialized Clinic, Children's Hospital of Ain Shams University in Cairo, Egypt. It included 55 diabetic children and adolescents (mean age 13.93 ± 3.15 years) who were subdivided into 40 with no MVC and 15 with MVC. Thirty healthy subjects, age-and sex- matched were included as control group (mean age 12.83 ± 2.82 years). Patients and controls were assessed for glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and plasma adrenomedullin assay using ELISA technique.

Results

Mean plasma AM levels were significantly increased in patients with and without MVC compared to control group, (110.6 pg/mL, 60.25 pg/mL and 39.2 pg/mL respectively) (P < 0.01) with higher levels in those with MVC (P < 0.05). Plasma AM levels were positively correlated with both duration of diabetes (ρ = 0.703, P < 0.001) and glycemic control (HbA1c) (ρ = 0.453, P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Higher plasma AM levels in diabetics particularly in those with MVC & its correlation with diabetes duration and metabolic control may reflect the role of AM in diabetic vasculopathy in the pediatric age group.