No 11+12/2008 » Abstract

A Biomarker Concept for Assessment of Insulin Resistance, ß-Cell Function and Chronic Systemic Inflammation in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

by Andreas Pfützner, Matthias M. Weber, Thomas Forst

The classification of patients with type 2 diabetes by means of the classical clinical and laboratory markers (HbA1c, glucose, lipids, BMI and blood pressure) is a classification by symptoms and does not provide an insight into the underlying pathophysiological disorders, insulin resistance, ß-cell dysfunction and adipogenesis. However, a better understanding of these disorders may be helpful for the selection of appropriate and successful therapeutic interventions. The assessment of ß-cell dysfunction has become of special interest as more drugs have been developed that are supposed to protect these cells or preserve their functional capacity, such as GLP-1 analogs or DPPIV-inhibitors. Next to conventional means of ß-cell function assessment, HOMA-score and meal related functional parameters, the determination of fasting intact proinsulin or the proinsulin/insulin ratio have become popular methods to describe the impact of new drugs on the insulin secreting cells. They have been investigated and validated in multiple cross-sectional and interventional controlled clinical studies. Routine assessment of these markers in addition to adiponectin and hsCRP may allow for a better understanding of the underlying disease conditions and optimization of the anti-diabetic and anti-atherosclerotic therapy targeting beyond simple glucose control.

Clin. Lab. 2008;54(11-12):485-490.

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