Serum Adipocyte Fatty-Acid Binding Protein as an Independent Marker of Peripheral Artery Disease in Patients with Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus

The adipocyte fatty-acid binding protein (A-FABP) is predominantly expressed in macrophages and adipocytes and is an essential mediator of inflammation and atherosclerosis pathogenesis. Atherosclerosis is an aggravating factor for peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Our study intended to study the association between PAD and serum A-FABP levels in type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. One hundred and twenty T2DM subjects were enrolled in the study. Fasting blood samples were collected to determine biochemical data and A-FABP levels. By the automatic oscillometric method, the ankle-brachial index (ABI) was measured. Low ABI was defined as any value < 0.9. Twenty participants with T2DM (16.7%) were included in the low ABI group. Low ABI T2DM participants had an increased mean body mass index, body fat mass, systolic blood pressure, C-reactive protein, urine albumin-creatinine ratio, and A-FABP levels compared to those in the normal ABI group. After variables significantly associated with PAD were adjusted by multivariate logistic regression analyses, circulating A-FABP levels (odds ratio [OR]: 1.138; 95 percent confidence interval [CI]: 1.023-1.266; p = 0.017) were identified as the independent marker of PAD. In conclusion, fasting serum A-FABP value has positive association with PAD in T2DM patients.