Vascular complications of diabetes mellitus: what role for phospholipid-binding antibodies?

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 27, 2026

Quantification of Diabetes-induced Adherent Leukocytes in Retinal Vasculature
05:54

Quantification of Diabetes-induced Adherent Leukocytes in Retinal Vasculature

Published on: January 24, 2025

F Galtier-Dereure1, C Biron, M Vies

  • 1Endocrinology Department, University Hospital, Montpellier, France.

Lupus
|October 31, 1998
PubMed

Insights

Phospholipid-binding antibodies are not linked to uncomplicated diabetes. However, these antibodies are more common in diabetic patients with macroangiopathy or nephropathy, suggesting a role in vascular complications.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology and Metabolism
  • Immunology
  • Cardiovascular Research

Background:

  • Vascular complications are a major cause of morbidity in diabetes mellitus.
  • Risk factors for diabetic vasculopathy are not fully understood, with potential non-glycemic contributors.
  • Phospholipid-binding antibodies have been implicated in various conditions, but their role in diabetes complications requires clarification.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence of phospholipid-binding antibodies in patients with uncomplicated and complicated diabetes mellitus.
  • To determine if phospholipid-binding antibodies are associated with specific diabetic vascular complications such as retinopathy, nephropathy, and macroangiopathy.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional study comparing antibody prevalence across different diabetic patient groups and non-diabetic controls.
  • Analysis included 53 uncomplicated diabetic patients (Type 1 and Type 2), 23 with retinopathy, 28 with nephropathy, 37 with macroangiopathy, and 22 controls.
  • Lupus anticoagulant and anticardiolipin antibodies were measured; other macroangiopathy risk factors were also assessed.

Main Results:

  • Prevalence of phospholipid-binding antibodies was similar in uncomplicated diabetes (Type 1: 9.4%, Type 2: 9.5%) and controls (4.6%).
  • Antibody frequency significantly increased in complicated diabetes, specifically in patients with overt nephropathy (32.1%) and macroangiopathy (32.4%).
  • Patients with isolated retinopathy showed no significant increase in antibody prevalence (4.3%) compared to uncomplicated diabetics.

Conclusions:

  • Uncomplicated diabetes mellitus is not associated with an increased prevalence of phospholipid-binding antibodies.
  • A higher frequency of phospholipid-binding antibodies is observed in diabetic patients with macroangiopathy and nephropathy.
  • These findings suggest a potential role for phospholipid-binding antibodies in the development and progression of vascular complications in diabetes mellitus.

More Related Videos

Experimental and Imaging Techniques for Examining Fibrin Clot Structures in Normal and Diseased States07:09

Experimental and Imaging Techniques for Examining Fibrin Clot Structures in Normal and Diseased States

Published on: April 1, 2015

Related Concept Videos

Diabetic Retinopathy01:27

Diabetic Retinopathy

DefinitionDiabetic retinopathy is a microvascular complication of diabetes affecting the retinal blood vessels.Risk FactorsDiabetic retinopathy is present in almost all individuals with type 1 diabetes and more than 60% of those with type 2 diabetes after two decades of disease.The risk increases with poor glycemic control, hypertension, dyslipidemia, smoking, pregnancy, and puberty.Although cataracts and glaucoma are also more frequent in people with diabetes, retinopathy remains the leading...
Peripheral Artery Disease I: Introduction01:30

Peripheral Artery Disease I: Introduction

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) predominantly results from atherosclerosis, which involves the accumulation of fatty deposits, or plaques, within the walls of arteries. This causes them to narrow and harden, significantly reducing blood flow. PAD predominantly affects the legs, particularly the arteries supplying the thighs and calves. In rare cases, it may involve other arteries, including those in the arms.Etiology of PAD:The principal cause of PAD is atherosclerosis, which results from fatty...
Complications of Diabetes Mellitus01:22

Complications of Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by persistent hyperglycemia due to insulin deficiency, resistance, or both. Prolonged hyperglycemia disrupts metabolic homeostasis and leads to acute and chronic complications.Acute ComplicationsAcute complications result from sudden metabolic imbalance.Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) mainly appears in type 1 diabetes but may also develop in type 2 diabetes, particularly under extreme stress. It arises from severe insulin deficiency,...
Diabetic Nephropathy01:28

Diabetic Nephropathy

Definition Diabetic nephropathy is a chronic kidney complication that results from prolonged hyperglycemia.Prevalence It is the most common cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) worldwide, affecting up to half of individuals with diabetes.Pathophysiology • Sustained hyperglycemia triggers multiple hemodynamic and metabolic changes in the kidney. • Early in the disease, increased renal blood flow and glomerular hyperfiltration occur due to afferent arteriolar...
Venous Thrombosis I: Introduction01:30

Venous Thrombosis I: Introduction

Venous thrombosis, the most common disorder of the veins, involves the formation of a thrombus or blood clot associated with vein inflammation. It can be classified as either superficial vein thrombosis or deep vein thrombosis.Superficial Vein Thrombosis: This involves the formation of a thrombus in a superficial vein, usually the greater or lesser saphenous vein. Though less severe than deep vein thrombosis (DVT), SVT can lead to complications if untreated.Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT): This...
Diabetes: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Complications01:15

Diabetes: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Complications

For most patients, experiencing several weeks of polyuria, polydipsia, fatigue, and significant weight loss may indicate the presence of diabetes. Furthermore, adults displaying the phenotypic appearance of type 2 diabetes (particularly those who are obese and not initially insulin-requiring), may have islet cell autoantibodies, suggesting autoimmune-mediated β cell destruction and a diagnosis of latent autoimmune diabetes of adults (LADA). The categorization of glucose homeostasis is based on...