Advanced glycation end products assessed by skin autofluorescence in type 1 diabetics are associated with nephropathy, but not retinopathy.

AIMS: Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are thought to play a central role in the pathogenesis of diabetes complications. For this reason, a non-invasive tool using skin autofluorescence (AF) quantification that correlates with levels of tissue AGEs has been developed. The present study aimed to assess whether or not skin AF is associated with microvascular complications in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D). METHODS: All consecutive patients with T1D (n=133) had three AF measures taken on the forearm, using illumination with a fluorescent tube, all on the same day after breakfast or lunch. Potential associations between skin AF levels and microvascular complications, age, diabetes duration and health status were then assessed using a multivariate linear-regression model. RESULTS: On age-adjusted analyses, diabetes duration, retinopathy, nephropathy and neuropathy were significantly associated with skin AF levels (all P<0.001). AF levels increased significantly with severity in both retinopathy and nephropathy (P<0.001). After adjusting for age, diabetes duration, HbA(1c), smoking, retinopathy, nephropathy and neuropathy, the association of AF levels remained significant with nephropathy and neuropathy, but not with retinopathy and diabetes duration. CONCLUSION: This study suggests an independent association between skin AF levels and diabetic nephropathy and neuropathy, but not retinopathy, in T1D patients. Prospective studies are needed to confirm the ability of skin AF levels to predict microangiopathy.

[Diabetes and second-generation (atypical) antipsychotics]. / Diabète et antipsychotiques de seconde génération.

Schizophrenia is a common psychiatric illness (1% of the general population), characterized by the association of positive and negative symptoms and cognitive disorders. Antipsychotics, typical or atypical, are known to induce in patients with schizophrenia weight gain and abnormalities in glucose and lipid metabolisms. These modifications, in addition to metabolic risk factors, intrinsic to the psychiatric illness (physical inactivity, smoking, diabetes), increase the risk of cardiovascular complications. Some antipsychotics are associated with a higher risk of metabolic disorders. Before starting such a medication, all risk factors must be taken into account. In case of even effectiveness, one should consider the risk of inducing metabolic disorders, as well as the intrinsic risk factors of the patient, in order to prescribe the medication associated with the lower metabolic risk. Regarding iatrogenic diabetes, the risk of occurrence seems different, depending on the molecules, being more marked for clozapine, olanzapine, risperidone, quietapine then amisulpride, aripiprazole and finally ziprasidone. The physiopathology seems to involve both an increase in insulin resistance and an alteration of insulin secretion. Nevertheless, the benefit/risk often remains largely in favour of treatment, the atypical antipsychotics are at least equally effective and better tolerated on the cognitive and neurological functions than conventional antipsychotics being. They have particularly far fewer extrapyramidal effects. The reversibility of pathologies induced by atypical antipsychotics led to the formulation of guidelines, leading to regular clinical and biological follow-up.