title: Telomere length is independently associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in subjects with type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Individuals with type 2 diabetes show shorter leukocyte telomere length (LTL) compared to people without diabetes. Reduced LTL is associated with increased carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in healthy subjects. The aim of the study is to assess whether LTL also correlates with IMT in patients with diabetes.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a cohort of 104 subjects with type 2 diabetes and atherogenic dyslipidemia, we assessed anthropometric, hemodynamic and metabolic parameters. Common carotid IMT was expressed as the maximum IMT. LTL was assessed by a specific real-time PCR reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At univariate analysis, IMT values were positively correlated with age (p < 0.001), previous history of cardiovascular events (p < 0.005), fasting plasma glucose (p < 0.01), HbA1c (p < 0.05) and negatively correlated with LTL (p < 0.05). In a multivariate model, age (p < 0.001) and LTL (p < 0.05) were the only independent predictors of maximum IMT, with an adjusted R (2) of 0.22.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LTL is an independent predictor of subclinical atherosclerosis pointing to a role of LTL as an early marker of vascular burden and cardiovascular disease also in type 2 diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Via Gramsci, 14, 43126, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Spigoni
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Via Gramsci, 14, 43126, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Raffaella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aldigeri
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Via Gramsci, 14, 43126, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Picconi
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Via Gramsci, 14, 43126, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Derlindati
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Via Gramsci, 14, 43126, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Franzini
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Via Gramsci, 14, 43126, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Haddoub
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Via Gramsci, 14, 43126, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Giorgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Prampolini
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Unit, Department of Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Vigna
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Via Gramsci, 14, 43126, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zavaroni
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Via Gramsci, 14, 43126, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Riccardo C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Bonadonna
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Via Gramsci, 14, 43126, Parma, Italy. alessandra.deicas@unipr.it.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dei Cas
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics*; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000166:cytology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D059506:Telomere Shortening
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: Aging; Intima-media thickness; Telomere length; Type 2 diabetes