Association of Plasma Fetuin-A Levels and Peripheral Vascular Disease in Type 2 Diabetic Patients

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is the most important factor for large vessels atherosclerotic occlusive disease, diabetic patients have two to four folds increase in risk of developing PVD more than non-diabetic individuals. Fetuin-A is a glycoprotein carries two N-linked and three O-linked oligosaccharide chains that terminate with sialic acid residues, and can bind cationic Ca2+ ions. Accordingly, fetuin- A has been proposed as an endogenous inhibitor of pathological mineralization or calcification in soft tissues. Specifically, fetuin-A forms protein-mineral colloids with calcium and phosphate, thereby preventing uncontrolled mineralization that may otherwise occur under pathological conditions. Aim of this study is to evaluate the association of plasma fetuin-A and peripheral vascular disease in type 2 diabetic patients. This study was conducted on twenty type 2 diabetic patients with peripheral vascular disease (PVD), twenty type 2 diabetic patients without peripheral vascular disease (PVD), all are selected from the inpatient department in the national institute of diabetes and endocrinology (NIDE), and ten healthy controls. The age group of all subjects is ranged from fifty to sixty five. Using ELISA technique, the mean fetuin-A level was (133.690 ± 32.083) ng/ ml in group (1), (248.395 ± 75.296) ng/ml in group (2), (310.760 ± 106.876) ng/ml in group (3). Doing Doppler ultrasound on the peripheral arteries in all subjects, the mean APSV (Ankle Peak Systolic Velocity) was (19.000 ± 2.714) cm/s in group (1), (81.450 ± 5.031) cm/s in group (2), (117.600 ± 17.264) cm/s in group (3). There was a highly statistical significant decrease in plasma fetuin-A levels being lower in group (1) (diabetics with PVD) than group (2) (diabetics without PVD) and group (3) (controls).