• A Gaudio, F Privitera, I Pulvirenti, E Canzonieri, R Rapisarda, and C E Fiore.
• Department of Medical and Pediatric Sciences University of Catania, Catania, Italy - agostino.gaudio@gmail.com.
• Panminerva Med. 2014 Sep 1; 56 (3): 221-5.

AimThe aim of this paper was to investigate the association of circulating osteoprotegerin (OPG) and receptor activator of the nuclear factor kB ligand (RANKL) levels with carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).MethodsWe performed a cross-sectional community-based study including 40 T2DM postmenopausal women and 40 healthy controls. CIMT was measured by B-mode ultrasound. Serum OPG and RANKL were measured by solid-phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).ResultsSerum OPG levels were higher in T2DM than in controls (median 2.9 vs 2.0 pmol/liter; P<0.001), significantly associated with CIMT in T2DM (P<0.001). RANKL levels were lower in T2DM than in controls (median 0.45 vs 0.60 pmol/liter; P<0.0001), however no association was found with CIMT. Serum OPG levels were associated with cross-sectional measure of CIMT in T2DM.ConclusionThe data would support the role of an increased OPG/RANKL ratio as a possible marker of progression of vascular dysfunction in diabetes.

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