Correlation between serum betatrophin level and type 2 diabetic nephropathy

ObjectiveTo explore the clinical value of serum betatrophin level in patients with type 2 diabetic nephropathy.

MethodsA total of 45 healthy outpatients were enrolled as the control group.Eighty-two patients with T2DM were set as the T2DM group, and were subdivided into the normal albuminuria group urinary albumin creatinine ratio(UACR) < 30 mg/g, microalbuminuria group(UACR at 30-300 mg/g) and macroalbuminuria group(UACR>300 mg/g).The serum level of betatrophin was measured using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, and the levels of blood glucose and blood lipid were measured simultaneously.

ResultsThe levels of betatrophin, FPG, FIns, HOMA-IR, HbA1c and TG in T2DM group were significantly higher than those in control group(P < 0.05), and the levels of betatrophin, FPG, FIns, HOMA-IR and FCP in macroalbuminuria group were significantly higher than those in normal albuminuria group(P < 0.05).The serum level of betatrophin in T2DM patients was positively correlated with the TG(r=0.425), FPG(r=0.287), UACR(r=0.319) and HOMA-IR(r=0.292) (P < 0.01).The results of stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that betatrophin and LDL-C were the independent relevant factors affecting UACR, and the UACR and TG were the independent relevant factors affecting betatrophin level.

ConclusionsThe serum level of betatrophin in patients with type 2 diabetic nephropathy increases significantly, and gradually increases with the aggravation of the disease, which suggest that betatrophin may be involved in the occurrence and development of diabetic nephropathy.