Alpha₂-Macroglobulin and Proliferative Retinopathy in Type 1 Diabetes

Summary

Serum alpha₂-macroglobulin (α₂ m) and total glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA₁) concentrations were measured in 110 insulin dependent Type 1 diabetics with minimal or no fundoscopic retinopathy, referred to as non-retinopaths, and in 52 proliferative retinopaths. Proteinuria was recorded in 8 (7%) non-retinopaths and 29 (56%) retinopaths and was accompanied by elevated α₂ m concentrations in both groups of diabetics but only significantly so in the non-retinopaths. Diabetics without proteinuria showed a significant correlation Between α₂ m concentration and duration of diabetes, HbA, and age (being higher at extremes of age). α₂ m concentrations were significantly higher in retinopaths than in non-retinopaths without proteinuria when allowance was made for the influence of age and duration of diabetes on α₂ m. This difference may be attributed to the higher HbA₁ levels found in retinopaths than in non-retinopaths and was no longer evident when account was taken of the prevailing HbA₁ concentration in individual patients.

Key-Words:

α₂-Macroglobulin - HbA₁ - Diabetic Retinopathy - Proteinuria