Leukocyte-endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1 (LECAM-1) polymorphism is associated with diabetic nephropathy in type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background/aims: Glomerular infiltration with monocytes/macrophages has been implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. In this study, we evaluated the relationship between the genetic polymorphism in leukocyte-endothelial adhesion molecule-1 (LECAM-1) and diabetic nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: We determined the frequency of the LECAM-1 P213S genotype in 102 diabetic patients with diabetic nephropathy, 90 diabetic patients with no evidence of diabetic nephropathy, and 200 healthy control individuals. Results: The frequency of the LECAM-1 213PP genotype and P allele in patients with diabetic nephropathy was significantly higher than that in patients without nephropathy (genotype 68% vs. 53% chi(2) = 6.78, P=.034; allele 83% vs. 72%, chi(2) = 6.26, P=.012). The LECAM-1 P213 genotype was associated with a 1.86-fold increased risk for nephropathy independently of other risk factors. Conclusion: The data suggest that the LECAM-1 213PP genotype is a genetic risk factor for the development of nephropathy in type 2 diabetes mellitus. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.