Study of serum immunoglobulin concentrations and other analytical variables in different types of diabetes mellitus

75 diabetic patients were the subject of this study. They were classified into 3 groups, 25 in each: group I [IDDM adult patients]; group II [NIDDM adult patients] and group III [IDDM children]. 2 groups of apparently healthy individuals of matching age and sex [25 in each] were chosen and served as control groups: one for the adult and the other for the children diabetic patients. In group 1, 52% of patients showed abnormal higher levels of IgA while, 12% showed abnormal higher levels of IgG. On the other hand 16% showed abnormal low levels of IgM. In group II percentages of patients showing abnormal immunoglobulin levels were 64%, 16% and 16% for IgA, IgG and IgM respectively. Regarding diabetic children, 12%, 4% and 8% showed abnormal levels of IgA, IgG and IgM respectively. IgA levels showed a positive significant correlation with age, disease duration, F. B. S and serum fructosamine in diabetic patients of group I. Neither correlation with age nor with disease duration was found among diabetic patients of group II and III. We concluded that abnormal serum IgA concentrations are very common in diabetic adult patients. Further research should be carried out to verify whether the determination of serum IgA is of clinical use for monitoring diabetes or evaluating its complications. Also our results, in addition to the recently reported relationship between serum fructosamine and IgA in non diabetic patients appears to throw doubt on the clinical utility of fructosamine as a measure of hyperglycemic status if IgA concentration is not taken into account especially in adult diabetic patients but can be used for diabetic children with no doubt

Serum angiotensin converting enzyme activity in children with diabetes mellitus

Scrum levels of angiotensin converting enzyme were measured in 21 children with type I diabetes mellitus and 13 healthy children. Diabetic subjects were excluded if they had hypertension; liver diseases; or kidney diseases. None of the children were receiving any medications except insulin in diabetic group. After an overnight fasting, blood sample was taken from each child for determination of fasting blood suger; glycosylated haemoglobin; and angiotensin converting enzyme. Data were analysed according to the non-paired student's t-test and linear regression analysis. Levels of angiotensin converting enzyme were significantly elevated in diabetic group as compared with control subjects [33.76 + 6.6 U/l vs 26.3 + 4.76 U/l .t = 3.82 and p<0.001]. No correlation was found between angiotensin converting enzyme levels and glycosylated haemoglobin or fasting blood glucose values. Many factors could contribute to elevation of this enzyme in diabetic children; increased release from damaged vasculature; subclinical hepatic impairment and insulin defeciency and/ or resistance