Association between pigmented pretibial patches and diabetic microangiopathy

Abstract

Objective To investigate the association of pigmented pretibial patches (PPP) with diabetic microangiopathy in type 2 diabetic (T2DM) patients. Method One thousand one hundred and thirty four T2DM patients admitted from February 2011 to February 2012 were enrolled in the study. The association of PPP with diabetic microangiopathy, serum C-reactive protein and IL-18 levels and other disease parameters was analyzed with logistic regression method. Results The overall prevalence of PPP was 32.1% (364/1134) with 37.7% (203/539) for males and 27.1% (161/595) for females. The prevalence of diabetic retinopathy, diabetic nephropathy and diabetic neuropathy in patients with or without PPP were 64.0%(233/364), 54.9%(200/364), 52.7%(192/364) and 21.7%(167/770), 19.5%(150/770), 17.3%(133/770) respectively; the prevalence of all three microvascular complications in patients with PPP was significantly higher than that in patients without PPP [31.0%(113/364) vs. 7.8%(60/770), P<0.05]. Logistic analysis indicated that the levels of glycosylated hemoglobin, duration of diabetes≥10 years and C-reactive protein≥3 g/L were associated with prevalence of PPP. Conclusions PPP is a common sign in diabetic patients and may be used as a indicator for diabetic microvascular complications. The prevalence of PPP is also associated with the levels of blood glucose, C-reactive protein and course duration of the disease. Key words: Hyperpigmentation; Diabetes mellitus, type 2; Diabetic angiopathies