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Medical AI Inquiry: You was designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.  Labels: OBJECTIVE, METHODS, RESULTS. Meshes: Adipokines, Aged, Albuminuria, Biomarkers, Case-Control Studies, Chitinase-3-Like Protein 1, Cross-Sectional Studies, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Disease Progression, Female, Humans, Incidence, Lectins, Male, Middle Aged, Risk Factors.
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Are yKL-40 levels independently associated with albuminuria in type 2 diabetes? Context: YKL-40 is involved in inflammation and endothelial dysfunction, and is increased in patients with type 1 diabetes, with an independent association between increasing YKL-40 levels and increasing levels of albuminuria. YKL-40 is associated with atherosclerosis and an increased cardiovascular mortality in the general population. In the present study YKL-40 levels were examined in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) with increasing levels of albuminuria, known to be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. One-hundred-five patients with T2D were examined: 49 with normoalbuminuria (N, U-albumin/creatinine < 2.5 mg/mmol), 35 with persistent microalbuminuria (MA, 2.5-25 mg/mmol) and 21 with persistent macroalbuminuria/diabetic nephropathy (DN, > 25 mg/mmol). The control group consisted of 20 healthy individuals (C). Groups were matched according to age, gender and known duration of diabetes. Median levels (interquartile range) of serum YKL-40 were significantly higher in N and MA vs. C (86 (55-137) ng/ml and 84 (71-147) ng/ml, respectively vs. 41 (33-55) ng/ml, p < 0.01) and even higher in patients with DN (120 (83-220) ng/ml, p < 0.001 for all comparisons). YKL-40 levels correlated with urinary albumin/creatinine-ratio in the total group of participants (r = 0.41, p < 0.001). Significant intercorrelations of YKL-40 were found with age, duration of diabetes, systolic blood pressure, lipid levels, HbA1c and HOMA-IR. After adjustment for significant covariates, albuminuria was significantly associated with YKL-40 levels (r = 0.32, p = 0.006).
assistant
YKL-40 levels are elevated in patients with T2D with an independent association between increasing YKL-40 levels and increasing levels of albuminuria. The study suggests a role of YKL-40 in the progressing vascular complications in patients with T2D. Final Decision: yes