Circulating ApoE level is independently associated with urinary albumin excretion in type 2 diabetic patients

Evidence from many studies suggests that dyslipidemia has a pathogenetic role in the development and progression of diabetic nephropathy. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationships between serum lipid parameters and urinary albumin excretion in type 2 diabetic patients from Shanghai, China.

A total of 1094 type 2 diabetic patients were recruited. The urinary albumin to creatinine ratio (ACR), serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), apolipoprotein A I (ApoA I), apolipoprotein B (ApoB), apolipoprotein E (ApoE) and lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] were measured and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) was calculated according to the Friedewald formula. An ACR of ≥30 µg/mg was defined as albuminuria, and <30 µg/mg as normoalbuminuria.

The levels of ApoE and triglyceride were significantly higher in albuminuric group compared with normoalbuminuric group (p<0.001 and p=0.003, respectively). Differences of ACR among the groups based on the tertile of ApoE and the tertile of triglyceride were significant (both p<0.001). In a multiple linear regression model, ApoE was independently associated with ACR (β=0.003, 95%CI 0.002-0.005, p<0.001).

Serum ApoE level was independently associated with urinary albumin excretion in type 2 diabetic patients from Shanghai, China.