ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Purpose: Trimethylamine N-oxide serum levels have been associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus and its complications. The current study aimed to find out if plasma trimethylamine N-oxide level may be a novel marker in the diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy and if it can be used in the differential diagnosis of diabetic and nondiabetic retinopathy. Methods: The study included 30 patients with diabetic retinopathy, 30 patients with nondiabetic retinopathy, 30 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus without retinopathy, and 30 healthy control participants. Biochemical parameters, serum IL-6, TNF-α, and trimethylamine N-oxide levels were measured in all participants. Results: Trimethylamine N-oxide level was significantly higher in diabetic retinopathy than in the other groups (p<0.001). There was no significant difference in trimethylamine N-oxide levels between nondiabetic retinopathy and control or type 2 diabetes mellitus Groups. There was a significant positive correlation between trimethylamine N-oxide level and elevated FPG, BMI, HOMA-IR score, BUN, IL-6, and TNF-α levels. Conclusion: The current study showed that the trimethylamine N-oxide level is elevated in diabetic retinopathy. These findings suggest that serum trimethylamine N-oxide level might be a novel marker for diabetic retinopathy, and it might be used in the differential diagnosis of diabetic and nondiabetic retinopathy.
RESUMO Objetivo: Os níveis séricos de N-óxido de trimetilamina têm sido associados ao diabetes mellitus tipo 2 e suas complicações. O presente estudo tem como objetivo responder a duas questões, entre elas: O nível plasmático de N-óxido de trimetilamina poderia ser um novo marcador no diagnóstico de retinopatia diabética? e Ele poderia ser utilizado no diagnóstico diferencial de retinopatia diabética e não diabética? Métodos: Trinta pacientes com retinopatia diabética, 30 pacientes com retinopatia não diabética, 30 pacientes com diabetes mellitus tipo 2 sem retinopatia e 30 participantes saudáveis do grupo controle foram incluídos no estudo. Parâmetros bioquímicos, níveis séricos de IL-6, de TNF-α e de N-óxido de trimetilamina foram medidos em todos os participantes. Resultados: O nível de N-óxido de trimetilamina foi significativamente maior na retinopatia diabética do que nos outros grupos (p<0,001). Não houve diferença significativa no nível de N-óxido de trimetilamina entre o grupo de retinopatia não diabética, do grupo controle ou do grupo de diabetes mellitus tipo 2. Houve uma correlação positiva significativa entre o nível de N-óxido de trimetilamina e os níveis elevados de FPG, IMC, HOMA-IR, BUN, IL-6 e TNF-α. Conclusão: O estudo atual mostrou que o nível de N-óxido de trimetilamina encontra-se elevado na retinopatia diabética. Esses achados sugerem que o nível sérico de N-óxido de trimetilamina pode ser um novo marcador na retinopatia diabética, podendo ser usado no diagnóstico diferencial de retinopatia diabética e não diabética.
ABSTRACT
SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: Cardiovascular disease risk prediction in scleroderma is important. In this study of scleroderma patients, the aim was to investigate the relationship between cardiac myosin-binding protein-C, sensitive troponin T, and trimethylamine N-oxide and cardiovascular disease risk with the Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation 2 model of the European Society of Cardiology. METHODS: Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation 2 risk groups of 38 healthy controls and 52 women with scleroderma were evaluated. Cardiac myosin-binding protein-C, sensitive troponin T, and trimethylamine N-oxide levels were analyzed with commercial ELISA kits. RESULTS: In scleroderma patients, cardiac myosin-binding protein-C and trimethylamine N-oxide levels were higher than healthy controls but sensitive troponin T was not (p<0.001, p<0.001, and p=0.274, respectively). Out of 52 patients, 36 (69.2%) were at low risk, and the other 16 (30.8%) patients were at high-moderate risk with the Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation 2 model. At the optimal cutoff values, trimethylamine N-oxide could discriminate high-moderate risk with sensitivity 76%, specificity 86% and cardiac myosin-binding protein-C with sensitivity 75%, specificity 83%. Patients with high trimethylamine N-oxide levels (≥10.28 ng/mL) could predict high-moderate- Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation 2 risk 15 times higher than those with low trimethylamine N-oxide (<10.28 ng/mL) levels (odds ratio [OR]: 15.00, 95%CI 3.585-62.765, p<0.001). Similarly, high cardiac myosin-binding protein-C (≥8.29 ng/mL) levels could predict significantly higher Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation 2 risk than low cardiac myosin-binding protein-C (<8.29 ng/mL) levels (OR: 11.00, 95%CI 2.786-43.430). CONCLUSION: Noninvasive cardiovascular disease risk prediction indicators in scleroderma, cardiac myosin-binding protein-C, and trimethylamine N-oxide could be recommended to distinguish between high-moderate risk and low risk with the Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation 2 model.