Shortened mean erythrocyte age in female patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: The hyperglycemic state is known to shorten the erythrocyte life span. Erythrocyte creatine (EC) reflects the mean erythrocyte age and is useful as an indicator of hemolysis. Here, we studied the relationship between EC and glycemic control indicators [HbA1c or glycated albumin (GA)] in non-diabetic subjects and diabetic patients.

METHODS: This study included 119 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and 76 non-diabetic subjects matched by sex and age. We studied the relationships between EC and HbA1c or GA in patients with T2DM and non-diabetic subjects.

RESULTS: Erythrocyte creatine in T2DM patients was significantly higher than that in non-diabetic subjects, and the ratio of high EC levels (>1.8 μmol/g Hb) in T2DM patients was significantly higher as well. Furthermore, female EC was significantly higher than male EC, and the ratio of high EC levels in females was significantly higher than in the males as well. While male EC had no significant correlation with HbA1c or GA, female EC had significant positive correlations with both. Male EC had no significant difference between T2DM patients and non-diabetic subjects, while the EC in female patients with T2DM was significantly higher than in female non-diabetic subjects.

CONCLUSIONS: The significant positive correlations of EC with HbA1c and GA in female patients with T2DM suggested that the mean erythrocyte age decreased in female diabetic patients with poor glycemic control.