Glycated Albumin and Angiopoietin-2: Possible indicators of Diabetic Retinopathy in Type-Two Diabetes

Objectives: To compare the levels of glycated albumin and angiopoietin-2 in Type-Two diabetics with and without diabetic retinopathy.

Methods: It was a cross-sectional comparative study done at University of Health Sciences, Lahore after collecting data from recruited patients from the outpatient department of Layton Rahmatulla Benevolent Trust Eye Hospital, Lahore from 1st July, 2016 to 30th Aug., 2017. A total of 80 type two diabetics of both genders fulfilling the inclusion criteria were included and divided in two groups based on absence and presence of diabetic retinopathy. Obtained data were analyzed using IBM SPSS for Windows software (version 22). For comparison of both groups, Independent “t” Test or Mann-Whitney U tests were applied accordingly. For correlation of quantitative variables in each group, Spearman rho correlation and Pearson correlation test were applied depending upon normality of data.

Results: Among 80 type-two diabetics, 42 (52.5%) patients had diabetic retinopathy and 38 (47.5%) were without diabetic retinopathy. Overall, females (62.5%) outnumbered males (37.5%). Both study group were age matched (p=0.45). Mean serum albumin in diabetic retinopathy and non-diabetic retinopathy group was 4.20 ±0.56 gm/dL and 4.43 ±0.39 gm/dL respectively (p=0.031). In diabetic retinopathy group, mean glycated albumin was 1.48 (0.63-1.76) gm/dL and median IQR in non-diabetic retinopathy was 0.52 (0.23-1.10) gm/dL (p=0.003). In diabetic retinopathy group, mean glycated albumin (percent) was 30.71±18.63% and in non-diabetic retinopathy group, the median IQR was 11.80 (5.06-27.25) (p= 0.001). The angiopoietin-2 median IQR in diabetic retinopathy group 5.70 (5.47-5.80) was significantly different (p=0.033) from diabetics without diabetic retinopathy groups 5.40 (4.97-5.60).

Conclusion: Our study reported raised levels of glycated albumin (percent) and angiopoietin-2 in type-two diabetics, highlighting their possible involvement in disease and its progression.