title: Relationships between osteoprotegerin, receptor activator of the nuclear factor kB ligand serum levels and carotid intima-media thickness in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
abstract: The aim of this paper was to investigate the association of circulating osteoprotegerin (OPG) and receptor activator of the nuclear factor kB ligand (RANKL) levels with carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
  
  
  
  We performed a cross-sectional community-based study including 40 T2DM postmenopausal women and 40 healthy controls. CIMT was measured by B-mode ultrasound. Serum OPG and RANKL were measured by solid-phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
  
  
  
  Serum OPG levels were higher in T2DM than in controls (median 2.9 vs 2.0 pmol/liter; P<0.001), significantly associated with CIMT in T2DM (P<0.001). RANKL levels were lower in T2DM than in controls (median 0.45 vs 0.60 pmol/liter; P<0.0001), however no association was found with CIMT. Serum OPG levels were associated with cross-sectional measure of CIMT in T2DM.
  
  
  
  The data would support the role of an increased OPG/RANKL ratio as a possible marker of progression of vascular dysfunction in diabetes.
authors: Department of Medical and Pediatric Sciences University of Catania, Catania, Italy - agostino.gaudio@gmail.com.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Gaudio
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Privitera
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Pulvirenti
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Canzonieri
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Rapisarda
authors: C E
authors: CE
authors: Fiore
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D053244:Osteoprotegerin / Q000378:metabolism*; D017698:Postmenopause; D053245:RANK Ligand / Q000378:metabolism*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012737:Sex Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D053244:Osteoprotegerin; D053245:RANK Ligand; C506030:TNFRSF11B protein, human; C505688:TNFSF11 protein, human