Abstract:

Objective To investigate the relationship between serum uric acid (SUA) concentration and urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER) and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods The clinical data of 372 patients with T2DM, including 184 males and 188 females, were collected. The correlations between SUA and the other clinical indexes were analysed by Pearson method, and multiple regression analysis was employed to examine the effects of various factors on UAER and CIMT. Results SUA concentration was higher in males than in females with T2DM (P<0.01), and was positively correlated with UAER both in males and females with T2DM, even after adjustment for the creatinine clearance (r=0.24, P<0.01 for males; r=0.29, P<0.01 for females). Positive correlation was found between SUA concentration and CIMT in females (r=0.29, P<0.01). Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that SUA concentration was an independent determinant of UAER for males as well as females (β=0.16, P<0.05 for males; β=0.20，P<0.05 for females), and was also an independent determinant of CIMT for females (β=0.16, P<0.05). Conclusion SUA plays an important role in the progression of diabetic nephropathy and cardiovascular diseases in patients with T2DM. SUA control may provide a novel approach for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy and vascular complications.

Key words: type 2 diabetes mellitus, serum uric acid, urinary albumin excretion rate, carotid intima-media thickness