Abstract:
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the major causes of mortality
in patients with diabetes mellitus. Both quantitative and qualitative abnormalities of
lipoproteins were associated with the development of atherogenesis. In this study we
concluded to essentially investigated apolipoprotein as a good diagnostic marker for
atherosclerosis. A randomly selected 60 Sudanese diabetic patients (30 type1, 30
type2) visited Jabir Abu Alizz Diabetes Centre (Khartoum, Central Sudan) were
enrolled in the study during July-September 2005. A total number of 30 healthy
volunteered individuals as a control group. Blood specimens were collected from all
groups (n = 90) and serum lipid, lipid profiles and Apolipoprotein were determined.
Statistical analysis was done, using SPSS package descriptive and comparing
different parameters between groups of patients and control.
According to assessment blood glucose was increased in patients compared to
control (p<0.05), the leve of total cholesterol in patients were: 8% (n = 5) a high level,
8% (n= 5) high normal and 84% (n =50) had a normal level. However no significance
in the assessment of triglyceride and VLDL in patients and controls, although there
were 5% (n=3) of patients had a high level of both. The study indicated a significance
increased (p<0.05) the level of Apolipoprotein B, lipoprotein(a) and LDL cholesterol
in patients group compared to controls, [about 15% (n= 9) of patients had a high
normal level Apo B, 12% (n= 7) of patients had a high normal level LDL, and 73%
(n= 44) [38% (n= 23) type1, & 35% (n= 21) type2], of patients had a high
level of Lp(a) than controls]; where in the other hand the level of Apolipoprotein
A1 and HDL cholesterol, were significantly increased in controls compared to
patients group, [10% (n= 6) of patients were low normal HDL level and also 21% (n=
13) of Apo A1]. The study indicated that there were a significance correlation
between apolipoprotein B, LDL cholesterol and Lp(a), and apolipoprotein A1 and
HDL cholesterol (p<0.01). The study indicated that lipo(a) and Apo B were increased
when compared within group of patients, and it increased in type1 DM compare to
type2 DM. The study also concluded to that Lp(a), was increased proprtionally with
the age of patients.
In conclusion the study confirmed that Apolipoprotein is an important diagnostic
marker that can be used for early detection of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease
(CVD) in diabetic patients and follow up of patients, particularly when such
information cannot be obtained by use of routine lipid profiles examination.