Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal

Abstract

ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND:
Metabolic syndrome is a constellation of risk factors of metabolic origin that are accompanied by
increased risk of cardiovascular disease and type II diabetes. These risk factors are atherogenic
dyslipidemia, elevated blood pressure, elevated plasma glucose, a prothrombotic state, and a
proinflammatory state. The two major underlying the risk factors of metabolic syndrome are obesity
and insulin resistance; exacerbating factors are physical inactivity, advancing age, and endocrine and
genetics . The condition is progressive, beginning with borderline risk factors that eventually
progress to categorical risk factors. In many patients, metabolic syndrome culminates in type II
diabetes, which further increases risk for cardiovascular disease. Hyperferritinemia has been linked
with a wide spectrum of pathologies, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative
disorders, and metabolic syndrome.
OBJECTIVE:
The association between serum ferritin and metabolic syndrome components (hypertension,
dyslipidemia, body mass index) in cohort of Iraqi patients diagnosed with type II diabetes mellitus.
PATIENTS AND METHODS:
This a case-control study that was conducted at the teaching laboratories of the Medical City
hospital . The study included 60 patients with type II diabetes mellitus and 25 healthy controls
matching in age and gender . Height , body weight, waist circumference along with systolic and
diastolic blood pressures were measured .The obtained serum samples were used to measure: serum
ferritin, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol , TG, fasting serum glucose (FSG),
hemoglobin and glycated hemoglobin A1c(Hb A1c).
RESULTS:
The results of the study showed that there were significant differences between patients and controls
in relation to the following parameters :
- Serum ferritin , FSG , Hb A1c , total cholesterol , TG and LDL were significantly higher in
patients with type II diabetes mellitus and have metabolic syndrome as compared to the control
group. However HDL was Significantly lower in HDL when compared with control group.
- There were no significant differences in hemoglobin levels in comparison to the control group.
The correlation between serum ferritin levels and the other parameters of the patients sample were
as follows:
- A significant positive association with systolic blood pressure (SBP)(r= 0.260) (p= 0.044),with
diastolic blood pressure (DBP)(r= 0.382)(p= 0.0025),with waist circumference(WC) (r= 0.269)
(p= 0.037) , with body mass index(BMI) (r=0.289)(p=0.023),with fasting serum glucose
(r = 0.27)(p = 0.035), with Hb A1c (r= 0.264) (p= 0.041),with total cholesterol TC)(r= 0.268)
(p= 0.038), with triglyceride (TG)(r= 0.279)(p= 0.030), with LDL (r= 0.022)(p= 0.045) But no
association with HDL (r= 0.184)(p= 0.153).
CONCLUSION:
The study showed that serum ferritin level could be used as a screening tool for hypertension,
diabetes mellitus , atherosclerosis ,cardiovascular diseases and metabolic syndrome.