Haptoglobin Phenotypes in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and Carotid Atherosclerosis

The aim of the study: to determine the association of various Hp phenotypes (Hp1-1, Hp1-2 and Hp2-2) with the severity of carotid atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). Materials and Methods: One hundred and thirty-six patients (84 women and 52 men) with T2D were examined. Assessment of diabetes complications, comorbidities and metabolic parameters was performed. All patients underwent duplex ultrasound of the carotid arteries with measurement of intimamedia thickness (IMT). Hp variants (Hpl-l, Hpl-2 and Hp2-2) were determined by ELISA. Results: Hp1-1 variant was detected in 8 (14%) patients, Hp1-2 was revealed in 23 (39%), and Hp2-2 in 28 individuals (47%). Patients with different Hp phenotypes demonstrated no differences in age, duration of T2D, parameters of lipid metabolism and glycemic control. Carotid atherosclerosis was detected in 60% of patients with Hp1-1, 75.9% of those with Hp1-2 and in 68.3% of patients with Hp2-2. IMT values in the right carotid common artery (CCA) were the smallest in the Hp1-1 group (0.9 (0.7; 1.6) mm vs. 1.6 (0.8; 2.7) and 1.2 (0.8; 2.2) mm). The IMT of the left CCA showed similar trends (0.9 (0.7; 1.5) mm vs. 1.5 (0.9; 2.0) and 1.2 (0.8; 2.2) mm, p =0.09). The incidence of carotid artery stenosis in the study groups was 26.7%,39.7% and 31.7%, respectively. Conclusion: in T2D patients the Hp1-1 haptoglobin phenotype may be a protective factor against carotid atherosclerosis.