Nargis Jamil, Muhammad Shafiq, Kausar Tasneem, Javed Shah, Jamil ur Rehman.
Serum Sialic Acid Concentration and Coronary Artery Disease in Diabetes Mellitus.
J Ayub Med Coll Abottabad Jan ;12(1):6-8.

Background: The diabetics have more risk of coronary heart disease, but the reason for this is still unclear. Similarly serum sialic acid concentration is also a risk factor for coronary heart disease in general population. Some workers have reported raised levels of sialic acid in diabetics suggesting its relation with diabetes mellitus and hence with its complications in general and the incidence of coronary heart disease in particular. This study investigated the relationship between serum sialic acid concentrations and cardiovascular complications in diabetes. Methods: 50 diabetics and 25 controls were included. The diabetics were divided into two groups based upon presence or absence of cardiovascular complications. Sialic acid and cardiac enzymes were done on the serum. Results: The incidence of diabetes mellitus was equally present in both sexes, however, the incidence of cardiovascular complications was more in males. All cardiac enzymes were increased only in group of diabetics with cardiovascular complications (p<0.01). Serum sialic acid was significantly raised in diabetic patients as compared to healthy subjects. A further increase was observed in diabetics with cardiovascular complications (p<0.001) showing the implications of the raised levels of sialic acid with the development of cardiovascular complications.

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