Background: South Asians have a high burden of type 2 diabetes and vascular complications. Vascular inflammation is considered central in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis, and the complement system is thought to play an important role. Mannose-Binding Lectin (MBL), which activates the lectin pathway of complement activation, has been introduced as a risk marker of vascular damage. The present study explores the association of MBL levels, genotype and cardiovascular events in type 2 diabetic South Asians.Methods: We conducted a prospective observational study. A cohort consisting of 168 type 2 diabetic South Asians was followed for a median duration of 7.66 years. At baseline, MBL levels and genotype were determined. The association with future cardiovascular events was assessed by Cox proportional hazard regression.Results: During follow-up, 31 cardiovascular events occurred in 22 subjects (11 men, 11 women). The O/O genotype was significantly associated with the occurrence of cardiovascular events (hazard ratio 3.42, 95%CI 1.24-9.49, P = 0.018). However, log MBL levels were not associated with the occurrence of cardiovascular events (hazard ratio 0.93, 95% CI 0.50-1.73).Conclusions: In type 2 diabetic South Asians, the O/O MBL genotype is associated with cardiovascular events, although single serum MBL levels are not.

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doi.org/10.1186/1475-2840-10-60, hdl.handle.net/1765/26669
Cardiovascular Diabetology
Erasmus MC: University Medical Center Rotterdam

Siezenga, M., Chandie Shaw, P., Daha, M., Rabelink, T. J., & Berger, S. (2011). Low Mannose-Binding Lectin (MBL) genotype is associated with future cardiovascular events in type 2 diabetic South Asians. A prospective cohort study. Cardiovascular Diabetology, 10, 60–66. doi:10.1186/1475-2840-10-60