Diabetic ketoacidosis and its treatment increase plasma 3-deoxyglucosone

Objectives: Highly reactive dicarbonyl compounds are known to be increased by hyperglycemia, ketone bodies and lipid peroxidation. This study was carried out to investigate the effect of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and its treatment on the plasma concentration of 3 deoxyglucosone (3-DG) one of the dicarbonyl compounds. Design and Methods: 3-DG was measured in 7 children before, during and following correction of severe DKA. Results: 3-DG was elevated before treatment (610 nmol/L ± 70) in comparison to baseline (120 h) (200 nmol/L ± 17) (p < 0.05). At 6 to 24 h into treatment 3-DG was further elevated (1,080 nmol/L ± 80) in comparison to both pretreatment (p < 0.05) and baseline (p < 0.05). Conclusion: 3-DG is significantly elevated before the treatment of DKA and increases further during the treatment of DKA. The time course of the increase of 3-DG coincides with the time of progression of subclinical brain edema, which occurs in DKA.