Relaxin expression correlates significantly with serum fibrinogen variation in response to antidiabetic treatment in women with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
OBJECTIVE
Diabetes is associated with aberrant coagulation. Relaxin, an insulin-like peptide hormone, is a candidate to be involved in the underlying molecular mechanisms. Therefore, the present study investigated the correlation of relaxin expression with fibrinogen levels in diabetes patients undergoing oral antidiabetic treatment.


METHODS
In total, 192 type 2 diabetes patients were enrolled into the study. The patients were randomized to receive either pioglitazone or glimepiride for 26 weeks. Blood was drawn at baseline and at the end of the study to measure the concentrations of relaxin and fibrinogen with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and a turbimetric method, respectively. In addition, platelets were counted at both time points.


RESULTS
Total datasets were available from 161 patients (age 62.5 +/- 8.1 years, mean +/- standard deviation; 58 women, 103 men). The median initial parameter concentrations were: relaxin, 27.4 pg/ml (range 0.4 - 380 pg/ml); fibrinogen, 3.0 g/l (range 1.1 - 7.9 g/l); platelets, 217,000/microl (range 51,000 - 547 000/microl). The data were analyzed according to the increase or decrease of each parameter after therapy compared with baseline. There was a significant correlation of relaxin variation with fibrinogen variation, seen particularly in the female subgroup (p < 0.05). The correlation was independent of the antidiabetic medication.


CONCLUSIONS
The data suggest that there is a correlation between fibrinogen levels and relaxin expression. Relaxin may exert its cardioprotective properties after pathologic fibrinogen increase. This regulation may be affected by diabetes. As a consequence, cardiovascular risk may increase in women with aberrant relaxin functionality.
Schöndorf
Thomas
T
Institute for Clinical Research and Development, Mainz, Germany. thomass@ikfe.de
Lübben
Georg
G
Hoopmann
Markus
M
Borchert
Marcus
M
Forst
Thomas
T
Hohberg
Cloth
C
Löbig
Mirjam
M
Armbruster
Franz-Paul
FP
Roth
Werner
W
Grabellus
Martin
M
Pfützner
Andrzas
A
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009391:Nephelometry and Turbidimetry; D000077205:Pioglitazone; D012065:Relaxin / Q000097:blood*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013453:Sulfonylurea Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D045162:Thiazolidinediones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D013453:Sulfonylurea Compounds; D045162:Thiazolidinediones; C057619:glimepiride; D005340:Fibrinogen; D012065:Relaxin; D000077205:Pioglitazone