title: Low serum adiponectin levels in children and adolescents with diabetic retinopathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to elucidate the role of adiponectin, leptin, TNF-α and IL-6 on the early detection of the microvascular complications of type I diabetes.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 88 children were included in the study. There were 60 type I diabetic patients and 28 healthy control children.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The gender, age, weight, height, BMI and puberty status characteristics were similar in the patient and control groups (p>0.05). The serum leptin, TNF-α and IL-6 levels were similar between the patient and control groups (p>0.05) and the only difference was in the serum adiponectin level which was higher in the patient group (p:0.042). We also found no association between the adiponectin, leptin, TNF-α and IL-6 levels and diabetes duration (p>0.05). Leptin was high in the pubertal period (p:0.016), while adiponectin TNF-α and IL-6 levels were similar in the prepubertal and pubertal periods (p>0.05). The serum leptin level was high in microalbuminuria patients (p<0.041). The serum adiponectin, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels were not different in patients with and without microalbuminuria (p>0.05). The serum adiponectin level was lower in diabetic retinopathy patients (p:0.003), while the serum leptin level was higher (p:0.003). The TNF-α and IL-6 levels were similar in patients with and without retinopathy (p>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found increased serum adinopectin levels in children and adolescents with type I diabetes mellitus and low levels in diabetic retinopathy patients. Patients with low serum adiponectin levels and high leptin levels should be more closely monitored for chronic complication development and better metabolic control should be aimed for.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical Faculty, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: Eser
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tasci
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical Faculty, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet Nuri
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Ozbek
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical Faculty, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: Neslihan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Onenli-Mungan
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical Faculty, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: Fatih
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Temiz
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical Faculty, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ali Kemal
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Topaloglu
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical Faculty, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: Bilgin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yuksel
keywords: Adinopectin; Children and Adolescents; Leptin; Retinopathy; Type I Diabetes Mellitus