Objective Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are involved in diabetes complications. We aimed to investigate whether the accumulation of AGEs measured by skin autofluorescence (sAF) was associated with signs of diabetic peripheral neuropathy and to sensitivity, pain, motor and autonomic function 4 years later in patients with type 1 diabetes.Methods At baseline, 188 patients (age 51 years, diabetes duration 22 years) underwent skin autofluorescence measurement using the AGE Reader. Four years later, signs of diabetic peripheral neuropathy were defined as the presence of neuropathic pain and/or feet sensory loss or foot ulceration. Neurological tests were systematically performed: vibration perception threshold by neuroesthesiometry, neuropathic pain by the Douleur Neuropathique en 4 Questions score, muscle strength by dynamometry and electrochemical skin conductance. Multivariate analyses were adjusted by age, sex, height, body mass index, tobacco, HbA 1c , diabetes duration, estimated glomerular filtration rate and albumin excretion rate.Results At the 4-year follow-up, 13.8% of patients had signs of diabetic peripheral neuropathy. The baseline sAF was higher in those with signs of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (2.5 ± 0.7 vs 2.1 ± 0.5 arbitrary units (AU), p < 0.0005). In the multivariate analysis, a 1 SD higher skin autofluorescence at baseline was associated with an increased risk of signs of neuropathy (OR = 2.68, p = 0.01). All of the neurological tests were significantly altered in the highest quartile of the baseline sAF (>2.4 AU) compared with the lowest quartiles after multivariate adjustment.Conclusion This non-invasive measurement of skin autofluorescence may have a value for diabetic peripheral neuropathy in type 1 diabetes and a potential clinical utility for detection of diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

BackgroundWe aimed to analyze the relationships between skin autofluorescence (SAF) and incident macrovascular events and renal impairment after 4 years of follow-up in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D).MethodsTwo hundred and forty-three patients (51.2 ± 16.7 years old) with T1D participated. SAF was measured by AGE-Reader-TM at inclusion. Macrovascular events (MVE), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urinary albumin excretion rate (AER) were recorded then and 4 years later. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the relationships between SAF and incident MVE and renal profile 4 years later.ResultsPatients with incident MVE had a higher SAF (p = 0.003). SAF predicted incident MVE after adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, tobacco, diabetes duration, hypertension, HbA1c, AER, eGFR (OR 4.84 [95 % CI 1.31–17.89], p = 0.018). However, this relation was no longer significant after adjustment for history of MVE. An inverse relation was found between SAF and incident eGFR (p = 0.0001). Patients with incident eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73 m2 had a SAF higher than patients with normal eGFR. After adjustment for the previous criteria, SAF remained associated with the risk of impaired incident eGFR (OR 7.42 [95 % CI 1.59–34.65], p = 0.018). No relation was found between SAF and increased AER 4 years later.ConclusionsSAF predicts MVE in patients with T1D, adjusted for cardiovascular risk factors but the most powerful predictive factor remains history of MVE. SAF also predicts eGFR impairment, adjusted for initial AER and renal function. SAF could be a useful non-invasive tool for estimating risk of cardiovascular or renal impairment in patients with T1D.

The skin autofluorescence of advanced glycation end-products progresses in patients with type 1 diabetes, more if they have diabetic nephropathy, less if they are treated by continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion. This progression is associated with the development of nephropathy.

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