Endocrine Abstracts

Background and aims: Previous studies have documented environmental risk factors for the progression of carotid intima-media thickness (IMT); however, few have examined genetic risk factors for the progression of carotid IMT and none has specifically examined subjects with type 2 diabetes. This study examined the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms in the adiponectin gene and the progression of carotid IMT in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Materials and methods: We performed common carotid ultrasonography at baseline and 33–39 months later in 324 consecutive subjects with type 2 diabetes. The genotypes of the adiponectin gene were determined using a single base primer extension method.

Results: The A allele of −11426A/G (P<0.05), G allele of −10066C/G (P=0.001), A allele of −8564G/A (P<0.01), A allele of −450A/G (P<0.05), and G allele of 276G/T (P<0.01) were associated with progressive carotid IMT. In the haplotype analysis, the AC/AC haplotype combination in block 1, GAA/GAA haplotype combination in block 2, and GGA/GAG and GGA/TAG haplotype combinations in block four of the adiponectin gene were associated with progressive carotid IMT (P<0.05).

Conclusion: Variation in the adiponectin gene is associated with the rate of carotid IMT progression and is an important genetic factor for the progression of atherosclerosis in subjects with type 2 diabetes.