HDL subclasses and the common CETP TaqIB variant predict the incidence of microangiopatic complications in type 2 diabetic women: A 9years follow-up study

•Nephropathy and retinopathy are the most common diabetes microvascular complications.•Hypertension and hyperglycemia contribute to the progression of microangiopathy.•Atherogenic dyslipidemia and HDL subclasses are associated with microvascular disease. Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) and retinopathy (DR) develop in a considerable number of subjects with Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) despite the achievement of the recommended targets for glycaemia and blood pressure. Atherogenic dyslipidemia may play a relevant role, especially in T2DM women. We report our findings on the effect of diabetic dyslipidaemia, the HDL subclasses distribution and the common cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP)TaqIB variant on the incidence or the progression of DKD and DR in 97 T2D women, after a ∼9years of follow-up. At baseline, T2D women presented with low HDL-C levels and higher levels of large lipid rich α-1 (16.34mg/dl), α-2 (33.39mg/dl) and pre- α1 (4.81mg/dl) HDL subparticles. The CETP TaqIB polymorphism and baseline HbA1c, triglycerides, and HDL-C levels as well as specific HDL subpopulations were associated to the occurrence of RD after ∼9years of follow-up. At stepwise regression analysis, HbA1c, triglycerides and the less atheroprotective α-3 HDL particles were the only factors independently associated to the incidence of RD. These same variables were also associated with the progression from background to proliferative RD. BMI, LDL/HDL ratio and low levels of α-1 HDL particles were associated to the occurrence of DKD at univariate analysis, although BMI was the only significant predictor at stepwise multivariate regression analysis. In T2D women, atherogenic dyslipidemia as well as subtle modifications in lipoprotein particles profile are associated with incidence and progression of microvascular disease.