Haptoglobin and lipid profile in diabetic nephropathy in Ilorin, Kwara state

Background: Diabetic Nephropathy (DN) is a common cause of abnormal lipoprotein metabolism and can be influenced by impairment of renal function and metabolic controls in diabetes. Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the level of Haptoglobin and Lipid Profile in Diabetic Nephropathy Patients. Subjects and Method: A prospective case-controlled study was carried out among Diabetic Nephropathy Patients and Control with a total number of 50 DN Patients and 50 Non-Diabetics control subjects respectively. Serum Glucose estimation was analyzed using Glucose Oxidase Peroxidase (GOD) method, Serum Haptoglobin was determined using a Nephelometric method while the Lipid Profile (Total cholesterol, Triglycerides, and HDL-cholesterol) was assayed using an enzymatic method of estimation, while LDL-cholesterol was calculated by Friedewald equation. Body Mass Index (BMI, kgm-2) was calculated from height and weight which were obtained from a questionnaire used to record the demographic features of all the participants/subjects. Result: The results obtained show that serum glucose was significantly increased in Diabetic Nephropathy Patients (8.62 ± 1.34, p<0.05) when compared with control subjects (3.02 ± 0.88, p<0.05). There was also a significant increase (p<0.05) in mean Serum Haptoglobin (38.25 ± 6.67) in Diabetics when compared with control subjects (19.40 ± 3.92). A significant increase was also observed in Triglycerides in DN Patients with a mean of (0.77 ± 0.53, p<0.05) when compared to control subjects (0.63 ± 0.26). However, there were no significant increases in Total Cholesterol and LDL-Cholesterol, with their mean value of (4.15 ± 1.27 and 1.95 ± 0.72) when compared to control subjects (3.59 ± 1.04 and 3.59 ± 1.04) respectively. While an insignificant decrease was observed in DN Patient’s HDL-cholesterol mean value (0.81 ± 0.34) when compared to control subjects (1.18 ± 0.19). In this study, a strong statistically significant positive correlation was observed in Haptoglobin and Total cholesterol (R= 0.939, P= 0.015), HDL-C (R= 0.897, P= 0.025). Conclusion: This study showed increased levels of Fasting Blood Glucose, Serum Haptoglobin, and Triglycerides increased Diabetic Nephropathy in Ilorin. Lipid control appears to be important in the prevention and treatment of Diabetic Nephropathy. This study suggests that serum Hp levels may be used as a potential biomarker for the early diagnosis of Diabetic Kidney Diseases in Diabetes Patients.