Abstract
Plasma concentraions of fructosamine, an indicator of glycosylated plasma proteins, were measured in diabetic patients using the Fructosamine Test (Roche). Samples were incubated with nitroblue tetrazolium at pH 10.35. (1) There was no difference in plasma fructosamine between the normal subjects and those with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) diagnosed with the 75 g glucose tolerance test. Diabetic patients whose fasting plasma glucose (FPG) level was less than 140mg/dl showed significantly higher plasma fructosamine than normal or IGT subjects, as did patients of FPG level of 140 mg/dl or more. (2) Plasma fructosamine concentration in 298 diabetic patients was 3.25±0.92 (mmol/l, mean± SD), higher than that of normal subjects (2.32± 0.32, n=48). Correlatons were seen between fructosamine and FPG (r=0.450), HbA1 (r=0.621) and HbA1c (r=0.585) in these patients. (3) The relationship was studied between plasma fructosamine and preceding FPG levels measured weekly. The levels of FPG that were determined two weeks earlier showed the highest correlation.
Fructosamine assay is a simple and rapid procedure that can be fully automated. Our results suggest that fructosamine measurement may be helpful in screening for diabetes mellitus and useful in monitoring short-term control of plasma glucose in diabetic patients.
