Elevation of a Novel Angiogenic Factor, Leucine-Rich-α2-Glycoprotein (LRG1), Is Associated With Arterial Stiffness, Endothelial Dysfunction, and Peripheral Arterial Disease in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes

Context: Increased arterial stiffness and endothelial dysfunction are associated with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Leucine-rich-α2-glycoprotein (LRG1) is a proangiogenic factor involved in regulation of the TGFβ signaling pathway. Objective: This study in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus explored the associations of plasma LRG1 with arterial stiffness, endothelial function, and PAD. Design: Based on the ankle brachial index (ABI), patients were classified as having PAD (ABI ≤ 0.9) or as being borderline abnormal (ABI, 0.91–0.99) or normal (ABI, 1.00–1.40). LRG1 was measured by immunoassay; arterial stiffness, by carotid-femoral pulse-wave velocity and augmentation index; and endothelial function, by laser Doppler flowmetry. Results: A total of 2058 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were recruited. Mean age (1 SD) was 57.4 (0.2) years. Patients with PAD (n = 258) had significantly higher LRG1 compared to patients with borderline ABI and patients without PAD (19.00 [13.50] vs 17.35 [13.30] ...