Can the Serum Endocan Level Be Used as a Biomarker to Predict Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Patients with Prediabetes?

• Published in: Arquivos brasileiros de cardiologia 2022-01, Vol.119 (4), p.544-550
• Main Authors: Arman, Yucel, Atici, Adem, Altun, Ozgur, Sarikaya, Remzi, Yoldemir, Sengül Aydin, Akarsu, Murat, Kutlu, Orkide, Ozturk, Guzin Zeren, Demir, Pinar, Ozcan, Mustafa, Bayraktarli, Recep Yilmaz, Tukek, Tufan
• Format: Article
• Language: eng ; por
• ISSN: 1678-4170
• DOI: 10.36660/abc.20210797

BACKGROUNDPatients with prediabetes have an increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease; therefore, early detection is important. OBJECTIVEThe present study aimed to reveal the usability of serum endocan levels as a biomarker in the diagnosis of subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with prediabetes, based on CIMT measurements. METHODSParticipants were classified according to the presence (n=42) or absence (n=42) of prediabetes. Serum endocan, fasting blood sugar, fasting insulin, and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) values of patients were examined, and CIMT was measured. The level of significance for statistical analysis was 0.05. RESULTSWhile serum endocan levels were found to be lower in patients with prediabetes, when compared to the control group (p=0.042), CIMT values were found to be higher (p=0.046). When evaluated by multivariate regression analysis, the serum endocan level was found to be associated with CIMT, regardless of other parameters (p=0.007). A negative correlation was found between plasma fasting insulin and endocan levels (r=-0.320, p=0.001). CONCLUSIONSCarotid intima media thickness was found to be high and the serum endocan level was low in patients with prediabetes. Decreased serum endocan levels in patients with prediabetes may be a contributing factor to atherosclerosis formation mechanisms.