Plasma osteoprotegerin concentrations in type 1 diabetic patients with albuminuria

BackgroundOsteoprotegerin (OPG) is a recently identified inhibitor of bone resorption. Recent studies indicate that OPG is also associated with endothelial dysfunction in diabetes.AimTo investigate the relationship between plasma OPG levels and urinary albumin excretion (UAE) in type 1 diabetes.MethodsA total of 80 type 1 diabetic subjects and 40 control subjects were enrolled. Diabetic subjects were divided into a normoalbuminuric group and a microalbuminuric group according to urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER). Plasma OPG level was measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay.ResultsThe plasma OPG levels were significantly elevated in patients with microalbuminuria (176.39 ± 25.05 pg/ml) compared with patients with normoalbuminuria (154.73 ± 16.66 pg/ml) and control subjects (44.76 ± 8.7 pg/ml). The plasma OPG level had a positive correlation with patients' age, duration of disease, HbA1C and UAER.ConclusionsPlasma OPG levels are significantly associated with UAE in patients with type 1 diabetes. These findings may support the concept that elevated plasma OPG may be associated with diabetic angiopathy.