Background and Aim: A low-grade inflammation is associated with cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) and increased concentration of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) was found in individuals with type 1 diabetes and definitive CAN. This study evaluated plasma concentration of LTB4 and of other inflammatory mediators, namely, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin (IL)1B, and IL10 in individuals with T2D and different degrees of CAN, and correlated these inflammatory mediators with the degree of glycemic control and with a surrogate marker of insulin resistance.
Methods: TNF, IL1B, IL10 and LTB4 plasma concentrations were measured in 129 T2D subjects (62% women with [median] age of 63 years, disease duration of 8 years and HbA1c of 7.3%) with or without CAN. The Lipid accumulation product (LAP) index was used as a surrogate marker of insulin resistance.
Results TNF and LTB4 concentrations were higher in the group with definitive CAN while IL10 concentration was lower in this group versus those without definitive CAN. After adjustment for confounding variables, only LTB4 concentration remained significantly different. Plasma concentration of LTB4 did not correlate with the degree of glycemic control. After sorting the participants by sex, a borderline weak correlation was found between LTB4 and LAP in women.
Conclusion: In the T2D setting, circulating LTB4 concentration seems to be associated with cardiovascular dysautonomia.