Microangiopathic complications in type 1 diabetes mellitus: differences in severity when isolated or associated with autoimmune polyendocrinopathies.

CONTEXT The development and evolution of different chronic diabetic complications may present variations among the different types and conditions of this disease. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the degree of microangiopathy in Type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1) associated with autoimmune polyendocrinopathies (OSAD) or isolated DM1 (iDM1). PATIENTS OSAD (n = 17) and iDM1 (n = 13) were over 15 years old at diagnosis of DM and were matched for diabetes duration (13.9 +/- 8.2 and 13.2 +/- 5.9 years respectively) and metabolic control (HbA1c: 6.4 +/- 1.9 and 6.8 +/- 1.4%). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Urinary albumin excretion (UAE; ELISA), the inversion of serum creatinine (1/C) level and indirect ophthalmoscopy. RESULTS Although the prevalence of hypertension was similar in both groups, the OSAD had inferior levels of UAE (7.4 +/- 2.5 vs. 17.3 +/- 9.2 micrograms/min; p < 0.05). Nephropathy was detected in 12% of the OSAD (none of them macroproteinuric) and in 39% of the iDM1. The UAE in the iDM1 correlated negatively with 1/C values (r = -0.7, p < 0.005), but the same did not occur in the OSAD (r = 0.2, ns). Among patients with retinopathy, the severe form was found in 29% of the OSAD and in 46% of the iDM1. CONCLUSIONS OSAD was associated with a lower degree of microangiopathy, in spite of age at diagnosis, duration of diabetes and the metabolic control. In contrast with the iDM1, the increase in UAE of OSAD was not associated with reductions in GFR.