Platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH) activity in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH) activity and its relationship with clinical and demographic variables, metabolic control, apolipoprotein A and B levels and the susceptibility of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) to in vitro oxidation in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM 1). METHODS Forty two patients with DM 1 (27 females) and 48 control subjects (16 females) matched for gender, age and body mass index (BMI) were evaluated. The following tests were performed: fast plasma glucose (FG) and postprandial plasma glucose (PPG), lipid profile, uric acid (UA), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation rate using colorimetric assay. The PAF-AH activity was analyzed using colorimetric assay (Cayman Chemical). RESULTS The analysis of PAF-AH activity showed a higher enzyme activity in patients with DM 1 than in control subjects (0.0150 +/- 0.0051 vs. 0.0116 +/- 0.0041; p < 0.001). In patients with DM 1, a direct correlation between PAF-AH activity and age and LDL, and an inverse correlation between PAF-AH and HbA1c and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were found. CONCLUSION In the sample studied, PAF-AH showed a higher activity in patients with DM 1, a factor that may be related to the higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases observed in these patients. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the real participation of this enzyme in the risk of development of atherosclerotic diseases in patients with DM 1.