Determinants of vascular complications in type 2 diabetic South Asians

Abstract

South Asians have a high incidence of diabetes and subsequent cardiovascular and renal complications. Increasing evidence points towards the involvement of the complement system. We found higher levels of both complement C3( the central molecule in the complement cascade) and SC5b-9 (the effector phase of complement activation) in type 2 diabetic South Asians compared to Caucasians. However, neither C3 nor Sc5b-9 predicted cardiovascular events, though higher SC5b-9 levels were associated with renal damage. Mannose binding lectin (MBL, the recognition molecule of the lectin pathway) was studies. A low MBL genotype was associated with cardiovascular events, whiel a high serem MBL level was associated with progressive renal failure.