Lower serum level of anti-tetanus toxin antibodies in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

To evaluate the serum levels of anti-tetanus toxin antibodies (anti-TTA) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and in a control group. Totally, 100 patients with type 2 DM and 100 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals were enrolled to study. The presence of type 2 DM confirmed according to the clinical and para-clinical criteria such as fasting plasma glucose above 126 mg/dl. A peripheral blood sample was collected from all subjects. The serum samples of participants tested for the levels of anti-TTA by ELISA method. The serum antitoxin concentration 0.1 IU/mL was considered as a protective level of antibody. The seroprotective rate in healthy group was significantly higher than diabetic group (99% vs. 92%; p0.001). In diabetic men the mean titer of anti-TTA was significantly higher in comparison to diabetic women (3.94 ± 0.34 IU/ml vs 2.59 ± 0.36 IU/ml; p40 years was also lower in comparison to those with age