Serum levels of type III procollagen peptide in diabetes mellitus.

Serum levels of type III procollagen peptide (P-III-P) were investigated in 19 patients with type 1 (insulin-dependent) and in 48 (25 orally treated, 23 insulinized) patients with type 2 (non insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus. Among patients with type 2 diabetes, 16 orally treated and 14 insulin-treated subjects had macrovascular complications. P-III-P levels were not correlated with the duration of diabetes and with glucose control, nor were there any significant sex and age differences in the levels. P-III-P values were significantly higher in the sera of insulin-treated non insulin-dependent diabetic patients with macroangiopathy. These high values (18.5 +/- 10.8 ng/ml) were in contra…