Relationship of plasma level of chemerin and vaspin to early atherosclerotic changes and cardiac autonomic neuropathy in adolescent type 1 diabetic patients

Objective: Our objective was to evaluate the relationship of plasma level of chemerin and vaspin to early atherosclerotic changes and cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) in adolescent type 1 diabetic patients. Patients and methods: The study included 62 type 1 diabetic patients and 30 healthy volunteers of the same age and sex. Blood samples were taken for assessment of chemerin, vaspin, asymmetric dimenthylarginine (ADMA), and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (OxLDL) by enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. Also, blood samples were taken for analysis of glycosylated hemoglobin; lipid profiles and urine samples were taken for assessment of albumin/creatinine ratio. Twenty-four-hour holter [for assessment of time domain heart rate variability (HRV)] and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) were also done. The t-test or Mann-Whitney U-test for independent variables, Pearson's or Spearman's correlation, and stepwise multiple regression analysis were used. Results: The mean age of diabetic patients was 16.3 +/- 1.5 years, and mean duration of diabetes was 9.4 +/- 2.9 years. Chemerin, vaspin, OxLDL, and albumin/creatinine ratio were significantly higher, whereas ADMA was significantly lower than the controls. By stepwise multiple regression analysis, vaspin had a relation with a standard deviation difference RR (SDARR) and waist/height ratio. Conversely, chemerin had a relation with OxLDL. Albumin/creatinine ratio had a significant positive correlation with chemerin and OxLDL, and a negative correlation with ADMA. Conclusions: Type 1 diabetic patients had impaired time domain HRV associated with increased CIMT. Vaspin had a significant relation to CAN, whereas chemerin, ADMA, and OxLDL had a significant correlation with albumin/creatinine ratio that reflects their role in renal affection.