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Biomedical subjects

G Schernthaner

Publications and source records attributed to G Schernthaner.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Improved glycaemic control with miglitol in inadequately-controlled type 2 diabetics.

OBJECTIVE: The study compared the long-term efficacy and safety of miglitol to placebo in Type 2 diabetic outpatients inadequately controlled on combination therapy of diet, glibenclamide and metformin. METHODS: Type 2 diabetic patients (n = 154) receiving glibenclamide 7-20 mg/day and at least one 500-850 mg tablet metformin per day were randomized to receive additional miglitol or placebo for 24 weeks, titrated up stepwise from 25 to 100 mg trice daily. RESULTS: Addition of miglitol to sulphonylureas and metformin (per protocol analysis) produced a statistically, significantly greater reduction in HbA1c (-0.55%, P = 0.04) and postprandial glucose (-2.6 mmol/l, P = 0.0009) from baseline to endpoint than placebo (-0.2% and -0.6 mol/l, respectively). Reduction in fasting blood glucose was greater with miglitol than placebo, and there was a possible difference in favor of miglitol for fasting and postprandial triglyceride levels, but these did not reach statistical significance. Flatulence and diarrhea were reported by statistically, significantly more patients receiving miglitol than placebo, but adverse events overall were reported by only 10% more patients in the miglitol group. No cases of hypoglycaemia were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Miglitol can safely and effectively be added to long-term combination therapy in people with Type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled with glibenclamide plus metformin.

1-Deoxynojirimycin↗
PubMed2001

Miglitol combined with metformin improves glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes.

AIM: To investigate the efficacy and safety of miglitol vs. placebo in type 2 diabetic outpatients insufficiently controlled (HbA1c between 7.5 and 10.5%) with diet and metformin. METHODS: Patients treated with diet and metformin (1500-2250 mg/day) were randomized to receive additional treatment with either miglitol or placebo for 32 weeks. The dosages were force-titrated: 4 weeks at 25 mg miglitol t.i.d., 12 weeks at 50 mg miglitol t.i.d., and 16 weeks at 100 mg miglitol t.i.d. or matching placebo. If the highest dosage could not be tolerated, patients could be down-titrated to 50 mg t.i.d. The primary efficacy criterion was the change in glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c). Secondary efficacy parameters included fasting and 1 h postprandial blood glucose, serum insulin, and fasting and 1 h postprandial triglyceride levels. Safety and tolerability were evaluated by the incidence of adverse events and changes in vital signs or routine biochemical and haematological parameters. RESULTS: One hundred and fifty-two patients were valid for the intent-to-treat (ITT) analysis. There was a significant decrease in HbA1c on adding miglitol to metformin compared to adding placebo (miglitol treatment effect, - 0.21%; placebo treatment effect, + 0.22%; p = 0.011). Postprandial blood glucose declined in both the miglitol/metformin and placebo/metformin groups with a statistically significant difference in favour of miglitol/metformin (end of treatment adjusted means 13.8 mmol/l for miglitol vs. 15.8 mmol/l for placebo, p = 0.0007). Adverse events (AEs) were reported by only 8% more patients in the miglitol/metformin group than placebo/metformin. No cases of hypoglycaemia were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Miglitol can safely and effectively be added to diet and metformin in patients whose type 2 diabetes is insufficiently controlled, and improves glycaemic control by significantly reducing HbA1c and postprandial blood glucose levels.

1-Deoxynojirimycin↗
PubMed2001

Low levels of Sex-Hormone-Binding Globulin predict insulin requirement in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus.

Low Sex-Hormone-Binding Globulin (SHBG) levels--indicating a state of hyperandrogenicity--are associated with a higher risk for the development of non-insulin dependent diabetes (NIDDM) in women and are accepted as a marker of muscular insulin resistance. To analyze whether low SHBG values are also present in patients with gestational diabetes, we investigated levels of SHBG in 42 patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in comparison with 48 pregnant women with normal glucose tolerance (NGT). Beside maternal parameters like body-mass index (BMI), HbA1c, fasting, 1- and 2-hour blood glucose and insulin concentrations, parameters of the new-borns (head-circumference, body weight, height and sex) were recorded. Maternal and neonatal variables were then related to SHBG levels. Both groups showed no differences in BMI, height, weight or age of gestation. Patients with GDM revealed significantly lower levels of SHBG than pregnant women with NGT(512 +/- 249 nmol/l vs. 643 +/- 137 nmol/l; p < 0.01). In patients with severe GDM and insulin therapy significantly lower levels of SHBG than in those with dietary treatment only were found (223 +/- 210 nmol/l vs. 592 +/- 102 nmol/l; p < 0.001). SHBG was inversely correlated to BMI (r = - 0.30; p < 0.01), 1-hour (r = - 0.20; p < 0.05) and 2-hour blood glucose levels (r = - 0.30; p <0.01). In summary, we found significantly lower levels of SHBG in patients with GDM, especially in those who developed severe GDM and required insulin therapy during the last months of pregnancy.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Progress in the characterization of slowly progressive autoimmune diabetes in adult patients (LADA or type 1.5 diabetes).

LADA or type 1.5 diabetes is a slowly progressive form of autoimmune diabetes of adults and represents a considerable proportion (about 5-10%) of all diabetic patients. Associations with high risk HLA genotypes and autoimmune phenomena (GAD, IA2, ICA) show similarities with type 1 diabetes, but phenotypical characteristics of these patients do not allow the correct identification without screening of GAD antibodies. The relatively low antibody titers against islet-cell antigens in LADA patients may be sign of a less aggressive form of autoimmune diabetes and could be responsible for the long non-insulin requirement phase of this diabetes type. Similar as in prediabetic relatives of type 1 diabetic patients the risk for beta cell failure in adult "type 2 diabetic" patients increases with the number of antibodies positive. Consequently, low titers of GAD--in particular in elderly patients--do not predict a progressive and rapid loss of beta-cell failure, when associations with high risk genotypes or other islet-cell antibodies are lacking. Patients with LADA share insulin resistance with type 2 diabetic patients, but display a more severe defect in stimulated beta-cell capacity than patients with classical type 2 diabetes. With respect to features of the metabolic syndrome, patients with LADA have lower BMI, blood pressure and triglyceride levels compared with classical type 2 diabetes patients. Early identification of LADA patients will be mandatory, when effective immune interventions are available for prevention of the beta-cell destructive process and insulin requirement of these patients.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Development of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in a patient with chronic hepatitis C during therapy with interferon-alpha.

Interferon (IFN)-alpha is used for the treatment of chronic viral hepatitis. It has been associated with various forms of autoimmune disease, e.g. autoimmune hepatitis, Hashimoto thyroiditis and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Further, an increase of insulin resistance and development of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus has been described after treatment with IFN-alpha. Several studies have investigated the induction of different autoimmune markers by IFN-alpha, but only few specified patients who developed insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. We report the case of a 37-year-old man with chronic hepatitis C who was treated with IFN-alpha plus ribavirin. Thirty weeks after the start of treatment, the patient developed insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and therapy was withdrawn. HLA typing showed an HLA-DR1,3 phenotype. At manifestation of diabetes mellitus, the C-peptide level was 0.37 ng/ml (normal range 0.5-3 ng/ml). The patient had a positive family history for type 2 diabetes. Several autoimmune markers were investigated before, during and 6 months after withdrawal of antiviral treatment. High titres of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) antibodies were present before therapy. A significant increase in titres of islet cell antibodies, parietal cell antibodies and sperm antibodies was present after 14 weeks of IFN-alpha treatment. Six months after withdrawal of IFN-alpha therapy, these antibodies had significantly decreased whereas GAD antibodies remained unchanged. There was no clinical sign of any other autoimmune disease. Our data show that, in patients with a predisposition to insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, the disease may become manifest as a side-effect during therapy with IFN-alpha. Several pathogenetic factors may be involved in this process, and, in addition to IFN-alpha, hepatitis C itself may induce autoimmune mechanisms. We conclude that screening for autoantibodies specific for type 1 diabetes should be performed before the start of IFN-alpha treatment. In patients found to be at increased risk of developing diabetes mellitus type 1, monitoring of titres of these antibodies during therapy could help to assess the individual risk-benefit ratio of IFN-alpha treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Concentrations of seven trace elements in different hematological matrices in patients with type 2 diabetes as compared to healthy controls.

This study aimed to compare the trace element status of patients with type 2 diabetes (n = 53) with those of nondiabetic healthy controls (n = 50). The concentrations of seven trace elements were determined in the whole blood, blood plasma, erythrocytes, and lymphocytes of the study subjects. Vanadium and iron levels in lymphocytes were significantly higher in diabetic patients as compared to controls (p < 0.05 for iron and p < 0.01 for vanadium). In contrast, lower manganese (p < 0.01) and selenium (p < 0.01) concentrations were detected in lymphocytes derived from patients with type 2 diabetes versus healthy subjects. Furthermore, significantly lower chromium levels (p < 0.05) were found in the plasma of diabetic individuals as compared to controls. Trace element concentrations were not dependent on the degree of glucose control as determined by correlation analysis between HBA1c versus metal levels in the four blood fractions. In summary, this study primarily demonstrated that trace element levels in lymphocytes of patients with type 2 diabetes could deviate significantly from controls, whereas, in general, no considerable differences could be found when comparing the other fractions between both patient groups. Therefore, it seems reasonable to analyze metal levels in leukocytes to determine trace element status in patients with type 2 diabetes and perhaps in other diseases.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

[Angiotensin II type-1 receptor antagonists and diabetes mellitus].

Arterial hypertension is a major risk factor for microangiopathic diabetic complications and associated with an increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. An intensified antihypertensive treatment reduces microangiopathic complications and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients. Even in normotensive type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients, the treatment with ACE inhibitors may prevent the later development of diabetic nephropathy. Treatment with ACE inhibitors increases the concentrations of bradykinin, which is responsible for the side effects such as cough and urticaria in some patients. On the other hand, bradykinin may have beneficial intrarenal effects decreasing the intraglomerular pressure. The novel angiotensin II receptor type 1 antagonists do not influence the bradykinin concentrations and seem to be tolerated by patients suffering from chronic cough with ACE inhibitor therapy. It is still unclear whether the different intrarenal effects are of clinical relevance in the long-term treatment of diabetic patients. In studies with diabetic animals the nephroprotective effects of ACE inhibitors and angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonists are comparable. It was shown that glucose and lipid metabolism is not influenced by treatment with angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonists. Further compared to Felodipine the reduction of urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER) was more pronounced by Losartane in Chinese type 2 diabetic patients. Short-term studies directly comparing the renal effects of ACE inhibitors with AT II type 1 receptor antagonists revealed similar reduction of blood pressure and albumin excretion rate in patients with diabetic nephropathy, so a combination of both substances might be useful. Data from ongoing long-term trials are still missing. Further, it is unknown whether different phenotypes of the ACE gene (DD, II polymorphism) require different therapeutic options. In conclusion, treatment with angiotensin II receptor antagonists is well-tolerated and has no adverse effects on metabolic control in diabetic patients. The beneficial effect on microangiopathic complications however has to be proven in randomized long-term studies in direct comparison with ACE inhibitors, which were clearly shown to delay the development and progression of diabetic nephropathy.

Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists↗
PubMed2000

A serine/alanine polymorphism in the nucleotide-binding fold-2 of the sulphonylurea receptor-1 (S1369A) is associated with enhanced glucose-induced insulin secretion during pregnancy.

The sulphonylurea receptor-1 (SUR-1) regulates glucose-induced insulin secretion by controlling K+-ATP channel activity of the pancreatic beta-cell membrane. In this study, we investigated the putative role of a T/G-polymorphism (exon 33, codon 1369; S1369A) in the adenosine diphosphate-sensing nucleotide-binding fold-2 (NBF-2) of the SUR-1 on glucose-induced insulin secretion during an oral glucose tolerance test in pregnant women (PW; n=182). Compared to PW with the T/T genotype, statistically significant elevated C-peptide concentrations were found 60 min after glucose intake in PW with the T/G and G/G genotype (T/T 9.0+/-0.4 ng/ml vs T/G 10.8+/-0.4 ng/ml or G/G 10.8+/-0.7 ng/ml, p=0.01). Furthermore, compared to PW with T/T genotype the deltaC-peptide (60/0 min) was significantly enhanced in PW with T/G or G/G genotype (T/T 6.7+/-0.3 vs T/G 8.9+/-0.4 or G/G 8.9+/-0.7, p=0.0009). A significant correlation of C-peptide concentrations with blood glucose (BG) 60 min after glucose intake was only found in PW with the T/T genotype (r=0.6, p<0.0004). Similarly, a significant correlation of insulin concentrations with BG 60 min after glucose intake was observed in PW with T/T genotype (r=0.5, p<0.0001) and T/G genotype (r=0.24, p<0.03) but not in PW with G/G genotype (r=0.01, p=0.9). From our data we conclude that in PW with the alanine substitution in the NBF-2 region, the insulin response of the pancreatic beta-cell after glucose intake is enhanced and does not correlate with actual BG levels.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters↗
PubMed2000

Growth hormone replacement therapy is not associated with retinal changes.

GH and/or growth factors are thought to play a role in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy. In addition, the occurence of retinal changes mimicking diabetic retinopathy in two GH-deficient (GHD) patients receiving GH replacement therapy (GHRT) has recently been reported. The present study was performed to evaluate whether this was a coincidence or whether GHRT might regularly induce retinal changes. Sixty-one GHD patients on GHRT with a mean age of 42.5 +/-17.3 yr were examined by one ophthalmologist (AR). The mean duration of GHRT was 8.4 +/- 3.7 yr in childhood onset and 3.5 +/- 2.1yr in adult onset patients. Plasma insulin-like growth factor I concentrations were 76.4 +/- 49.6 ng/mL before GHRT and 244.3 +/- 119.2 ng/mL while receiving GHRT with a dose of 1.7 +/- 0.7 IU/day. After pupil dilatation with tropicamide, fundus examinations of both eyes were performed using a Volk 90 diopter fundus lens with a slit lamp (Haag Streit, Bern, Switzerland). In none of the patients were vascular or retinal changes like macular edema, microaneurysms, hemorrhages, hard exsudates, cotton wool spots, preproliferative signs, or proliferations found. The optic discs were also normal in all patients. We conclude, therefore, that long-term GHRT can be administered safely in GHD patients without an increased risk of retinal changes.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Gastric emptying in Type II (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus before and after therapy readjustment: no influence of actual blood glucose concentration.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Hyperglycaemia that is induced short-term slows gastric emptying in healthy subjects and patients with diabetes mellitus. Little information is available on the impact of longer-lasting, naturally occurring blood glucose increases and their reduction to euglycaemic values. We studied the relation between gastric emptying and pre-prandial and postprandial blood glucose concentrations in patients with Type II (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus and secondary failure to respond to oral hypoglycaemic treatment (a) before readjusting hypoglycaemic therapy and (b) 1 week thereafter. METHODS: We studied 9 female and 1 male patient (age 60-78 years, BMI 21.9-32.5 kg/m2, diabetes duration 3-33 years, HbA1c 8.8-13.2%). Gastric emptying of a radiolabelled semisolid 1168 kJ meal was recorded scintigraphically. RESULTS: Blood glucose concentration pre-prandial and postprandial was considerably lower subsequent to than before therapy readjustment in all patients (fasting, 7.9 mmol/l+/-1.5 SD vs 11.7+/-1.7 mmol/l; 60 min postprandial, 11.7+/-2.0 vs 15.4+/-2.2 mmol/l). By contrast, gastric emptying was unchanged (residual radioactivity in stomach 50 min postprandial 65.7+/-14.1% vs 66.5+/-12.9%). There was no relation between emptying and either fasting blood glucose concentration or its postprandial increase. CONCLUSION/INTERPRETATION: The data do not support a major impact of actual, longer-lasting, naturally occurring blood glucose concentrations upon the rate of gastric emptying in patients with Type II diabetes.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Relative hypoleptinaemia in women with mild gestational diabetes mellitus.

AIMS: There is increasing evidence suggesting that leptin plays a major role in the regulation of energy homeostasis, as well as in the neuroendocrine and reproductive systems. Leptin is synthesized in the human placenta. The aim of this study was to relate serum leptin levels during pregnancy to glucose tolerance, body mass index (BMI) and specific metabolic variables, such as specific insulin and proinsulin. METHODS: A 2-h 75 g oral glucose tolerance test was performed in 221 pregnant women at 22-29 weeks of gestation (median 25th week). Serum leptin was measured using a radioimmunoassay. In 49 women, sequential leptin measurements were performed (during pregnancy and post partum (median 5 months)). RESULTS: During pregnancy serum leptin was significantly related to body weight (r = 0.49), BMI (r = 0.51), fasting immunoreactive insulin (r = 0.46), specific insulin (r = 0.43) and proinsulin (r = 0.29) (all P-values <0.0001). In women with mild gestational diabetes (GDM, n = 55), leptin levels were lower compared to women with normal glucose tolerance (n = 166) after adjusting for BMI and fasting insulin (26.9 vs. 19.4 ng/ml, P = 0.0001). Leptin was significantly higher during pregnancy compared to post partum (mean +/- SE: 24.3+/-1.5 vs. 19.6+/-1.6 ng/ml, P = 0.0003), even after adjustment for changes in BMI and changes in fasting insulin (P = 0.013). CONCLUSIONS: Leptin levels are elevated in pregnancy. Women with mild GDM presented with relative hypoleptinaemia compared to women with normal glucose tolerance.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Proinsulin in pregnant women with normal glucose tolerance or mild gestational diabetes mellitus.

Pregnancy is characterized by peripheral insulin resistance, which is physiologically compensated by an increase in insulin secretion. Type 2 diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) have been associated with an inappropriate increase in insulin precursors, namely proinsulin. The aim of this study was to determine levels of proinsulin (PI), specific insulin (SI) and the proinsulin-to-specific insulin (PI/SI) ratio in consecutive pregnant women (n = 209) with normal glucose tolerance (NGT), as assessed by a 2h oral glucose tolerance test, and with mild gestational diabetes (GDM), in comparison to 32 healthy, non-pregnant women. Furthermore, we related these variables to surrogate markers of insulin resistance and insulin secretion. We found no significant differences in the levels of PI and the PI/ SI ratio between pregnant and non-pregnant women (PI: 5.0 +/- 3.6 vs. 4.8 +/- 3.5 pmol/L, p = NS), and between pregnant women with mild GDM and NGT (PI: 5.4 +/- 2.4 vs. 4.9 +/- 3.9 pmol/L, p = NS). SI was elevated in women with mild GDM (112.2 +/- 47.3 vs. 94.8 +/- 43.0 pmol/L in NGT, p=0.02). PI was related to fasting glucose (r = 0.17, p < 0.02), but not post-load glucose levels, and to fasting insulin [specific insulin: r = 0.67, p = 0.0001; total immunoreactive insulin (IRI): r = 0.69, p = 0.0001], as well as post-load insulin levels (IRI at 120 min: r = 0.18, p < 0.03). The PI/SI ratio showed no association with fasting or post-load glucose or insulin levels. Pregnant women presented with a metabolic pattern suggestive of enhanced insulin resistance, namely increased fasting and post-load insulin levels. In women with mild GDM, fasting and post-load hyperglycemia, as well as an additional increase in insulin resistance was found. Group differences weakened when accounting for differences in body weight. The data of the present study suggest that in normal pregnancy as well as mild GDM metabolic alterations including enhanced insulin resistance and hyperglycemia do not result in an increase in circulating levels of proinsulin, both in absolute terms and relative to levels of specific insulin, as indicated by the proinsulin-to-specific insulin ratio.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Trp64Arg polymorphism of the beta3-adrenergic receptor gene in pregnancy: association with mild gestational diabetes mellitus.

A missense mutation of the beta3-adrenergic receptor gene (Trp64Arg) has been associated with obesity and increased capacity to gain weight in nonpregnant populations. Furthermore, the mutation is a potential modifying factor in the etiology of impaired glucose tolerance and type 2 diabetes. We studied the relation of the beta3-adrenergic receptor genotype to glucose tolerance during pregnancy, a state of physiological insulin resistance. In 179 pregnant women (mean age, 28.5 +/- 0.4 yr), a 2-h oral glucose tolerance test was performed between gestational weeks 20 and 31. The beta3-adrenergic receptor genotype was assessed using restriction fragment length polymorphism. The frequency of the Arg64 allele was 9.15%. In women with mild gestational diabetes (n = 70), as defined by 60 min postload glucose values, the Trp64Arg genotype was more frequent than in women with normal glucose tolerance (n = 109; 26% vs. 11%; P = 0.01). Furthermore, the Trp64Arg polymorphism was associated with increased weight gain during pregnancy (baseline to gestational weeks 20-31) and increased postload glucose, insulin, and C peptide values during the oral glucose tolerance test. The results of the present study extend current knowledge about the association of the Trp64Arg beta3-adrenergic receptor polymorphism with glucose tolerance to a pregnant population. The association with mild gestational diabetes suggests that the impact of the polymorphism may be clinically important during pregnancy, a state of physiological insulin resistance.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Cisapride versus placebo for 8 weeks on glycemic control and gastric emptying in insulin-dependent diabetes: a double blind cross-over trial.

In insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, slow gastric emptying may make absorption unpredictable and foster glycemic instability. Cisapride accelerates emptying, but controlled long term studies are scarce, and effects on glycemic control unknown. We investigated, in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and unstable glycemia, the effects of 10 mg cisapride 4 times daily for 8 weeks vs. placebo on glycemic control and gastric emptying under random, cross-over, double blind conditions. In 14 patients with delayed and 9 with nondelayed emptying, blood glucose variability over 28-week treatment periods separated by a 4-week wash-out and gastric emptying of a semisolid 1168-kJ meal immediately after the treatment periods were assessed. Cisapride did not affect glycemic control [SD of within-patient mean blood glucose, 4.2 mmol/L +/-0.1 (+/- SEM) vs. 4.0+/-0.1 mmol/L after placebo; hemoglobin A1c, 8.3+/-0.2% vs. 8.5+/-0.2%]. Emptying was faster after cisapride than after placebo in 8 of 14 patients with delayed vs. 7 of 9 with nondelayed emptying (P = NS) and in 11 of 15 without vs. 4 of 8 with cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (P = NS). Autonomic neuropathy prevailed in 7 of 14 patients with delayed and 1 of 9 with nondelayed emptying. Blood glucose immediately before and during assessment of emptying was unrelated to the emptying rate, whereas blood glucose increases over fasting levels were greater with faster emptying (P<0.002). In conclusion, cisapride's effects were not different from those of placebo on glycemic control and gastric emptying, it did not differently affect patients with delayed vs. nondelayed emptying, and it slightly accelerated emptying (P = NS) in patients without, but not in those with, cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy. Blood glucose levels before and during assessment of emptying did not affect emptying, but the glucose rise over fasting levels was greater with faster emptying.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Autoantibodies to oxidised low density lipoproteins in IDDM are inversely related to metabolic control and microvascular complications.

Diabetes mellitus is associated with an increased risk of atherosclerosis. The oxidation of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) is considered a key event in the initiation of atherosclerosis. To investigate LDL oxidation in vivo we measured autoantibodies to oxidised LDL (oxLDL) in 94 patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), compared to 27 age-matched, healthy control subjects. Patients and control subjects were screened for autoantibodies using a solid phase ELISA, comparing the binding to oxLDL with that to native LDL (nLDL). In patients with IDDM the oxLDL/nLDL antibody ratio was significantly higher than in control subjects (means+/-SEM: 2.24+/-0.26 vs 1.17+/-0.17, p < 0.03). Antibody-negative patients had a longer diabetes duration (13.5+/-1.3 vs 9.1+/-1.1 years, p < 0.01) and higher actual and mean HbA1c levels compared to antibody-positive patients (8.8+/-0.2 vs 7.9+/-0.2%, p < 0.005 and 8.3+/-0.2 vs 7.7+/-0.2%, p < 0.03; respectively). In patients with a high microangiopathy score, the antibody ratio was lower than in patients without complications (1.04+/-0.10 vs 2.40+/-0.29, p < 0.01). OxLDL specific immune complexes were found exclusively in antibody-negative as compared to antibody-positive patients (18.3 vs 0 %; p < 0.01). Our data demonstrate an inverse relationship between free oxLDL antibodies and the severity of the disease. This apparent paradox can be explained in part by our demonstration of oxLDL immune complexes, masking free antibodies.

Adult↗