Serum CA19–9 Levels and Pancreatic Beta Cell Destruction in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients

Abstract

Carbohydrate antigen 19–9 (CA 19–9) is a tumor–associated antigen, which is used in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer but is also a marker of pancreatic tissue damage that might be caused by diabetes. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum CA19–9 levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in comparison with age– and gender matched control subjects. The study was carried out on 90 patients having T2DM and 90 subjects as control group, with respect to diabetes duration and estimation of lipase, triacylglycerol(TG), total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels and serum CA 19–9 levels. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan was performed in order to differenciate subjects having abdominal malignancy either from diabetic or control groups. The mean values of CA 19–9 levels were 24.3±12.3 and 6.5±3.3 U/ml for diabetic patients and control group, respectively (p < 0.001). It is proposed that a higher cutoff value of CA 19–9 than 57.14 U/ml may be used to differentiate between benign and malignant pancreatic disease in diabetics. In addition, subtle elevations of CA 19–9 in diabetics may be considered as indicator of exocrine pancreatic dysfunction.