title: Higher levels of HDL cholesterol are associated with a decreased likelihood of albuminuria in patients with long-standing type 1 diabetes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to determine whether high levels of HDL cholesterol are associated with a lower prevalence of albuminuria
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed the lipid profiles of patients with type 1 diabetes of > or = 20 years duration in 42 patients with albuminuria (28 microalbuminuria and 14 macroalbuminuria) and 65 patients without increased albumin excretion before any interventions with either statins or ACE inhibitors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Several characteristics were similar in the two groups: sex, age, duration of diabetes, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides. By univariate analysis, significant differences (P < 0.01) were found in HDL cholesterol (albuminuria 1.42 mg/dl, no albuminuria 1.71 mg/dl, P < 0.01), HbA1c (A1C) (albuminuria 8.5%, no albuminuria 7.5%), and proportions with no, background, and proliferative retinopathy (albuminuria 2.4, 16.7, and 81%; no albuminuria 24.6, 52.3, and 23.1%, respectively). When adjusted for age and sex, a 0.26-mmol/l (10-mg/dl) increase in HDL cholesterol is associated with an odds ratio (OR) of 0.70 (95% CI 0.54-0.90) for having albuminuria. In a multivariate model that adjusted for age, sex, diabetes duration, and A1C, for every 0.54-mmol/l (21-mg/dl) increase in HDL cholesterol, patients are approximately half (OR 0.51 [95% CI 0.30-0.86]) as likely to have albuminuria, even after controlling for A1C.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Higher HDL cholesterol levels may be protective against the development of albuminuria in patients with type 1 diabetes. Whether this is due to the HDL cholesterol levels or whether they serve as a marker for some other mechanism remains to be determined.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 303 E. Chicago Ave. (Tarry 15-731), Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA. molitch@northwestern.edu
authors.forename: Mark E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Molitch
authors.forename: Demetra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rupp
authors.forename: Mercedes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carnethon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000419:Albuminuria / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol