Antiphospholipid antibodies in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 have a greater risk of accelerated atherosclerosis. Antiphospholipid antibodies(aPL)are associated with greater risk for thrombosis. To demonstrate the possible role of anticardiolipin(aCL) and anti-β2 glycoprotein(β2 GP1) antibodies in such patients, we investigate the presence of these antibodies in a group of type 2 diabetic patients. Objectives: 1. To investigate the presence of anticardiolipin IgM and IgG antibodies and anti-β2 GP1 IgG antibodies in diabetic patients and compare them with a control group. 2. To analyze their potential implication in the occurrence of vasculopathy in such patients. Patients and Methods: Fifty patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and 33 healthy subjects were included in the study. Each blood sample was tested for IgM, IgG aCL antibodies and for anti-β2 GP1 IgG antibodies. Results: Seven patients were positive for aCL IgM, 6 were positive for aCL IgG and 4 patients were positive for anti-β2 GP1 IgG antibodies. There was no differences in the means of IgM, IgG aCL and anti-β2 GP1 IgG antibodies titers in patients with complicated and uncomplicated diabetes mellitus. Conclusion: The aCL and β2 GP1 antibodies positive titer means among type2 diabetics were significantly higher than non-diabetic subjects. Positive but low titers of aCL and β2 GPI antibodies could suggest that these autoantibodies may play a minor role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Low titers of aCL and β2 GPI antibodies were seen in complicated and non-complicated diabetic populations that probably lessen the importance of these autoantibodies as effective contributors in the pathogenesis of diabetic vasculopathy.