Objective: To evaluate urinary 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) as a marker for the progression of diabetic macroangiopathic complications.

Research design and methods: The content of urinary 8-OHdG, common carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), the coronary heart disease (CHD) risk score, the severity of diabetic retinopathy, and urinary albumin excretion were examined in 96 patients with type 2 diabetes, including 32 patients who had been nominated for the Kumamoto Study [Shichiri M, et al. Diabetes Care 23 (Suppl 2):B21-B29, 2000]. In addition, the patients from the Kumamoto Study were further evaluated regarding the effect of intensive insulin therapy on urinary 8-OHdG excretion.

Results: The urinary 8-OHdG:creatinine ratio (U8-OHdG) was 2.5-fold higher in patients with increased HbA(1c) than in those with normal HbA(1c) (P < 0.05). In addition, U8-OHdG was 2.3-fold higher in patients with increased IMT (P < 0.005). A similar result was observed between U8-OHdG and CHD risk score (P < 0.01). U8-OHdG was significantly higher in patients with simple retinopathy (P < 0.05) and those with advanced retinopathy (P < 0.01) than in patients without retinopathy. Similarly, U8-OHdG was significantly higher in patients with albuminuria (P < 0.01). Furthermore, in the Kumamoto Study, U8-OHdG was significantly lower in the multiple insulin injection therapy group compared with the conventional insulin injection therapy group (P < 0.01).

Conclusions: Hyperglycemia independently increases 8-OHdG in patients with type 2 diabetes. 8-OHdG is a useful biomarker of not only microvascular but also macrovascular complications in patients with type 2 diabetes.