Serum Visfatin Level in Egyptian Diabetics With and Without Microvascular Complications

Background: Recently an adipose-tissue-derived protein termed visfatin was described in 2005. It was previously identified as a growth factor for early B-lymphocytes termed pre-B cell colony enhancing factor (PBEF). Visfatin was reported to be expressed almost exclusively in visceral adipose tissue and has insulin-like metabolic effects. These findings are exiting news and could provide a novel mechanism by which visceral fat accumulation can promote the development of T2DM. Objectives: The aim of our work is to study serum levels of visfatin and their relation to T2DM with and without microvascular complications. Subjects and Methods: We studied 90 subjects divided into 3 groups as follows: •Group A: 30 diabetic patients with microvascular complications. •Group B: 30 diabetic patients without microvascular complications. •Group C: 30 non-diabetic, age and sex-matched controls. All individuals included in the study were subjected to detailed clinical examination, fundus examination, and measurement of BMI, fasting, 2 hours PP blood glucose level, glycosylated Hb, serum visfatin level, fasting plasma insulin level, plasma nitrite level, plasma nitrite level and Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA) for insulin resistance. Results: Serum visfatin was higher in diabetics with microvascular complications (15.5±2.15) than in non complicated diabetics (10.99±1.96) and control group (7.63±1.07) (p-value10.001). A highly statistically significant positive correlation (p-value10.001) was found between serum visfatin level and FBG (r=0.700), 2hr PP Blood Glucose, HbAl c fasting plasma insulin, HOMAIR, plasma nitrite level and BMI. Conclusion: Our results suggest that visfatin may play a role in the pathogenesis of T2DM as well as its microvascular complications. Also visfatin may help in the identification of higher risk individuals for diabetes and cardiovascular disease with a better comprehension about the complex intercorrelation between adiposity, glucose metabolism and vascular disease.