Association of apelin, endoglin and endocan with diabetic peripheral neuropathy in type 2 diabetic patients

B. Bilir, B. Ekiz Bilir, I. Yilmaz, N. Soysal Atile, T. Yildirim, S.P. Kara, S.A. Gumustas, A.E. Orhan, M. Aydin

Department of Internal Medicine, Namik Kemal University School of Medicine, Tekirdag, Turkey. bulentbilir@yahoo.com

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• Metabolism

OBJECTIVE: Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is a common complication of type-2 diabetes mellitus. Endocan, apelin and endoglin are thought to be associated with endothelial dysfunction, angiogenesis and inflammation. In this study, we planned to evaluate these markers in diabetic peripheral neuropathy patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: This single-blind, controlled clinical study was conducted on 99 type 2 diabetic patients with or without diabetic peripheral neuropathy and 53 healthy volunteer controls. Physical and laboratory examinations were done in all groups. In these groups, Endoglin, apelin and endocan levels were measured with ELISA method.

RESULTS: Endoglin, apelin and endocan concentrations in diabetic peripheral neuropathy patients were higher than other diabetes mellitus patients and healthy controls. Similarly, diabetes mellitus patient’s endoglin, apelin and endocan levels were higher than healthy controls. The differences were statistically significant. We detected a significant positive correlation between endoglin, apelin and endocan levels in all groups.

CONCLUSIONS: Endoglin, apelin and endocan may reflect angiogenesis and endothelial dysfunction in diabetic peripheral neuropathy and they may be used as a marker in the future.

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