Elevated Plasma ALKAL2 Levels Linked to Increased Risk of Coronary Artery Disease in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

A new study has shed light on the association between ALKAL2 levels and coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Researchers at the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine have found that elevated plasma ALKAL2 levels are an independent risk factor for T2DM CAD and are associated with the severity of CAD.

Key Takeaways:

• The study included 275 T2DM patients with CAD and 275 age- and sex-matched T2DM patients without CAD.
• Plasma ALKAL2 levels were measured using an ELISA assay and were found to be increased in T2DM patients with CAD (0.25 [0.21, 0.37] ng/mL, median [IQR] vs. 0.18 [0.14, 0.24] ng/mL) (p < 0.01).
• Logistic regression models were used to measure the association between ALKAL2 and CAD risk, which found that elevated plasma ALKAL2 levels were an independent risk factor for T2DM CAD.
• The study concluded that elevated plasma ALKAL2 levels are associated with coronary atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Statistics:

• 275 T2DM patients with CAD and 275 age- and sex-matched T2DM patients without CAD were included in the final analysis.
• Plasma ALKAL2 levels were increased in T2DM patients with CAD (0.25 [0.21, 0.37] ng/mL, median [IQR] vs. 0.18 [0.14, 0.24] ng/mL) (p < 0.01).
• Logistic regression models showed that the odds ratio (OR) for CAD was 1.63 (95% CI 1.22-2.18) for every 1 ng/mL increase in plasma ALKAL2 levels.

Sources:

• "Plasma ALKAL2 levels are associated with coronary atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus." Cardiovascular Diabetology, 2025;24(1):388.
• NewsRx. New Type 2 Diabetes Study Findings Have Been Reported from Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (Plasma ALKAL2 levels are associated with coronary atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus). Cardiovascular Week. October 20, 2025; p 98.