The prediction roles of asymmetric dimethyl-arginine, adiponectin and apelin for macroangiopathy in patients with impaired glucose regulation.

Purpose: To investigate the effects of asymmetric dimethyl-arginine (ADMA), adiponectin (APN) and apelin in predicting macroangiopathy in impaired glucose regulation (IGR) patients.

Methods: A total of 210 patients undergoing oral glucose tolerance test were included in this study. They were classified to normal glucose tolerance (NGT, n=42), impaired fasting glucose (IFG, n=36), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT, n=92, including 44 IGT1 and 48 IGT2 patients) and IFG+IGT (n=40) groups. APN, apelin and ADMA levels, blood pressure, blood lipid, insulin, body mass index (BMI), and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were detected. The severity and extent of coronary atherosclerosis were determined by the Gensini score.

Results: The prevalence of coronary heart disease and Gensini scores in IGT and IFG+IGT groups were similar but both were higher than NGT and IFG groups (all P<0.05). Lower APN, higher ADMA and apelin levels were witnessed in IGT and IGT+IFG groups compared with NGT and IFG groups (all P<0.05). IGT2 group had higher 2-h PG and apelin levels and Gensini scores but lower APN levels than IGT1 group (all P<0.05). Gensini score was positively correlated with apelin (r=0.669) and ADMA (r=0.764), but were negatively correlated with APN (r=-0.555, all P<0.001). ADMA and APN were the independent factors affecting Gensini score.

Conclusion: ADMA and APN levels could be predictive factors for macroangiopathy in IGR patients, especially in IGT cases.