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International Journal of Pediatrics & Neonatal Care Volume 1 (2015), Article ID 1:IJPNC-110, 4 pages
http://dx.doi.org/10.15344/2455-2364/2015/110
Research Article
Type 4 Retinol Binding Protein as a Marker of Hepatic Steatosis in Children and Adolescents with Type 2 Diabetes

Ana Carolina Hill de Tito1, Hanna Marrodán García1, Miguel Klünder Klünder2, María Teresa Valadez Reyes3, Fengyang Huang4, Mario Molina Díaz1, Lubia Velázquez López5 and Patricia Medina Bravo1*

1Department of Endocrinology, Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez, Mexico
2Department of Community Health Research, Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez, Mexico
3Department of Radiology, Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez, Mexico
4Department of Pharmacology, Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez, Mexico
5Clinical Epidemiology Research Unit, Hospital Regional General No. 1 Carlos McGregor Sánchez-Navarro, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico
Dr. Patricia Medina Bravo, Endocrinology Department, Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez, Dr. Márquez No. 162, Colonia Doctores. Delegación Cuauhtémoc, C. P. 06720, Mexico, Tel: +5252289917; E-mail: drapatty_75@hotmail.com
24 March 2015; 20 November 2015; 24 November 2015
de Tito ACH, García HM, Klünder MK, Reyes MTV, Huang F, et al. (2015) Type 4 Retinol Binding Protein as a Marker of Hepatic Steatosis in Children and Adolescents with Type 2 Diabetes. Int J Pediatr Neonat Care 1: 110. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.15344/2455-2364/2015/110

Abstract

Background: Type 4 retinol binding protein (RBP4) is a novel adipocytokine that has been related with insulin resistance (IR). In pediatric population, RBP4 levels are higher in obese subjects compared with lean subjects. In adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D) a positive correlation has been found between RBP4 levels and hepatic steatosis (HS). There is scarce information on RBP4 levels in children and adolescents with T2D. The aim of our study was to evaluate RBP4 levels in T2D adolescents and its association to HS.
Methods: 34 T2D adolescents were included. Fasting glucose, glicated hemoglobin (HBA1c), lipid profile, and RBP4 levels were determined. The degree of HS was evaluated by hepatic Doppler-ultrasound. Results: Of the 34 patients, 64.7% were female. Mean age was 14.37±2.27 years and HbA1c was 9.27± 3.27%. 33.3% did not have steatosis (NHS), 41.7% had mild HS (MHS) and 25% had severe HS (SHS). No differences were found between the 3 groups in age, weight, BMI, waist, years of DM2, and Tanner stage. ALT, AST and RBP4 concentrations were higher in patients with SHS compared with those with MHS and NHS (p=0.04). There was a positive correlation between HS and RBP4 levels (r=0.487, p=0.043).
Conclusion: In children and adolescents with T2D RBP4 levels are associated with the degree of HS. This adipocytokine could be used as an HS serum marker.