Hiroshi Okada1, Michiaki Fukui2, Muhei Tanaka1, Shinobu Matsumoto1, Kanae Kobayashi1, Hiroya Iwase1, Kiichiro Tomiyasu3, Koji Nakano4, Goji Hasegawa1, Naoto Nakamura1. 1. Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, 465 Kajii-cho, Kawaramachi-Hirokoji, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan. 2. Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, 465 Kajii-cho, Kawaramachi-Hirokoji, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan. Electronic address: sayarinapm@hotmail.com. 3. Department of Cardiology, Kyoto Yamashiro General Medical Center, Japan. 4. Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Kyoto Yamashiro General Medical Center, Japan.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Bilirubin has been recognized as an important endogeneous antioxidant. Previous studies reported that bilirubin could prevent atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to investigate if serum bilirubin concentration could be a predictor for the development of albuminuria in patients with type 2 diabetes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We measured serum bilirubin in 320 consecutive patients with normoalbuminuria. We performed follow-up study to assess the development of albuminuria, mean interval of which was 3.2±0.9years. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to examine the relationship between serum bilirubin concentration and the development of albuminuria. RESULTS: During follow-up duration, 43 patients have developed albuminuria. In multivariate analysis, after adjusting for comprehensive risk factors, the risk of developing albuminuria was higher in the lowest quartile of serum bilirubin concentrations than that in the highest quartile of serum bilirubin concentrations (Hazard ratio, 5.76; 95% CI, 1.65 to 24.93). CONCLUSIONS: Low serum bilirubin concentration could be a novel risk factor for the development of albuminuria in patients with type 2 diabetes.
OBJECTIVE:Bilirubin has been recognized as an important endogeneous antioxidant. Previous studies reported that bilirubin could prevent atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to investigate if serum bilirubin concentration could be a predictor for the development of albuminuria in patients with type 2 diabetes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We measured serum bilirubin in 320 consecutive patients with normoalbuminuria. We performed follow-up study to assess the development of albuminuria, mean interval of which was 3.2±0.9years. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to examine the relationship between serum bilirubin concentration and the development of albuminuria. RESULTS: During follow-up duration, 43 patients have developed albuminuria. In multivariate analysis, after adjusting for comprehensive risk factors, the risk of developing albuminuria was higher in the lowest quartile of serum bilirubin concentrations than that in the highest quartile of serum bilirubin concentrations (Hazard ratio, 5.76; 95% CI, 1.65 to 24.93). CONCLUSIONS: Low serum bilirubin concentration could be a novel risk factor for the development of albuminuria in patients with type 2 diabetes.