Serum glycated albumin is superior to hemoglobin A1c for correlating with HMGB1 in coronary artery disease with type 2 diabetic mellitus patients.

High mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) was significantly increased in coronary artery disease (CAD) with type 2 diabetic mellitus (T2DM) patients. This study was to investigate the relationship between average blood glucose level and HMGB1 level in CAD with T2DM patients. 164 CAD patients were divided into two groups: CAD with T2DM patients group and CAD without T2DM patients group. Glycated albumin (GA) and glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and HMGB1 concentrations were measured in CAD with T2DM patients. The fasting glucose levels, GA and HbA1c levels were sinificantly increased in CAD with T2DM patients compared to those in CAD without T2DM patients (all P<0.05). The hs-CRP levels in CAD with T2DM patients were significantly higher than those in CAD without T2DM patients (P<0.05). The HMGB1 levels in CAD with T2DM patients were also significantly higher than those in CAD without T2DM patients (P<0.05). Both serum GA levels and HbA1c levels were positively correlated with HMGB1 levels (n=84, r=0.512 and r=0.402, both P<0.05). The present study showed that both serum GA levels and HbA1c levels were positively related with HMGB1 levels in CAD with T2DM patients. Increased blood glucose levels may contribute to the increased HMGB1 levels. GA level is superior to HbA1c level for correlating with HMGB1 level.