Hyperadiponectinemia Is Independent of Kidney Function, Diabetes Duration, and Control in Type 1 Diabetic Patients without Microangiopathy

Introduction: High total adiponectin (ADPN) levels were reported in type 1 diabetes (T1D) and related to long diabetes duration and nephropathy. We studied whether ADPN and its specific isoforms were elevated in T1D without microangiopathy and whether they were related to kidney function. Materials and Methods: Total, high, medium, and low molecular weight ADPN and insulin levels were measured in 47 consecutive normoalbuminuric, normotensive T1D patients without retinopathy and in 47 age-, sex-, and body mass index-matched controls. Glomerular filtration rate was estimated by 51Cr-EDTA plasma clearance. Results: Total and high molecular weight ADPN ratio were higher in T1D patients than in controls. ADPN levels were not related to anthropometric measures, whereas they were in controls. In T1D, ADPN levels were not related to glycosylated hemoglobin, diabetes duration, or glomerular filtration rate. Peripheral insulin levels were higher in T1D patients than in controls, but they were not related to ADPN levels. In controls, insulin levels were positively related to total ADPN. Conclusion: In T1D without microangiopathy, high ADPN levels could not be related to anthropometric diabetes parameters, kidney function, or high insulin levels. The nature of this elevation remains unknown.