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Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 is associated with coronary artery calcium in Type 1 diabetes

Katherine A Pratte1, Anna E Barón, Lorraine G Ogden

  • 1Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, CO 80262, USA.

Journal of Diabetes and Its Complications
|September 5, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is linked to coronary artery disease (CAD) in Type 1 diabetes patients, especially younger individuals. This association with subclinical CAD, measured by coronary artery calcium, is independent of insulin resistance in this group.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Endocrinology
  • Diabetology

Background:

  • Elevated plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is linked to coronary artery disease (CAD).
  • Type 1 diabetes patients exhibit increased CAD risk and earlier subclinical CAD development.
  • The independent association of PAI-1 with subclinical CAD in Type 1 diabetes, particularly concerning insulin resistance, remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between PAI-1 levels and subclinical CAD in Type 1 diabetes patients.
  • To determine if this association is independent of insulin resistance.
  • To explore age-related differences in the PAI-1 and subclinical CAD relationship.

Main Methods:

  • Coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring via electron-beam computed tomography was used to assess subclinical CAD.
  • PAI-1 levels and traditional risk factors were evaluated in 560 Type 1 diabetes patients and 693 non-diabetic participants.
  • Statistical analyses controlled for traditional risk factors not associated with insulin resistance.

Main Results:

  • PAI-1 was significantly associated with CAC in both Type 1 diabetes (OR=1.32) and non-diabetic (OR=1.34) groups, independent of traditional risk factors.
  • In Type 1 diabetes patients, the association between PAI-1 and CAC was significantly stronger in younger participants (P=.02 for interaction).
  • Specifically, PAI-1 was positively associated with CAC in Type 1 diabetes individuals under 45 years old.

Conclusions:

  • PAI-1 levels are independently associated with subclinical CAD (CAC) in younger Type 1 diabetes patients.
  • This independent relationship between PAI-1 and CAC was not observed in non-diabetic participants.
  • PAI-1 may serve as a crucial biomarker for early detection of subclinical CAD in young individuals with Type 1 diabetes.
Abstract

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