Serum marker predicts cardiovascular events in diabetes

(HealthDay)—Elevated levels of polyclonal serum immunoglobulin combined free light chains (cFLCs) may indicate adverse cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes, according to research published online April 17 in Diabetes Care.

Srikanth Bellary, M.B.B.S., of Aston University in Birmingham, U.K., and colleagues conducted a cohort study of 352 South Asian patients with type 2 diabetes to assess the association between cFLCs and cardiovascular disease events.

The researchers found that, among patients with type 2 diabetes who had CVD events during two years of follow-up, cFLC levels were elevated in 8 percent (50.7 versus 42.8 mg/L; P = 0.004). According to multivariable analysis, elevated cFLC level (greater than 57.2 mg/L) was associated with adverse CVD outcomes (odds ratio, 3.3; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.3 to 8.2; P = 0.012). This association remained significant after adjustment for age, albumin-to-creatinine ratio, diabetes duration, or treatment.

"cFLC elevation is a novel marker for CVD outcomes in type 2 diabetes that warrants further investigation," the authors write.

The United Kingdom Asian Diabetes Study and several study authors received funding from pharmaceutical companies.