Pentosidine as a biomarker for microvascular complications in type 2 diabetic patients

Serum soluble receptor for advanced glycation end product (sRAGE) may reflect the activity of the advanced glycation end product (AGE)-receptor for advanced glycation end product (RAGE) axis, which has been proposed as a potential mechanism linking hyperglycaemia to vascular complications in diabetes. We have investigated whether serum AGEs, sRAGE and pentosidine levels were increased and correlated with microvascular complications in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). We included 30 healthy control subjects, and 200 diabetic patients were divided into two subgroups: 100 patients with diabetic retinopathy and 100 patients with diabetic nephropathy. AGEs, sRAGE and pentosidine were measured in serum by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Serum AGEs, sRAGE and pentosidine levels were significantly increased in diabetic patients with retinopathy and in diabetic patients with nephropathy compared to control subjects (p < 0.001). Serum AGEs, sRAGE and pentosidine levels are positively associated with microvascular complications in type 2 DM. Multiple regression analysis reveals serum pentosidine as an independent determinant of the presence of diabetic retinopathy (p = 0.004) and the presence of hypertension (p = 0.018) and hyperlipidaemia (p = 0.036). Pentosidine levels may be a biomarker for microvascular complications in type 2 diabetic patients.