Background: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a common chronic and metabolic disease characterized by hyperglycemia as a cardinal metabolic feature. Chronic hyperglycemia proved to cause macro and microvascular complications. Studies proved that TIDM is associated with metabolic abnormalities and alteration of adipose tissue hormones (adipokines). Adipose tissue yields many adipocytokines that modulate insulin sensitivity and play essential role in the pathogenesis of diabetes. apelin is a multifunction neuropeptide, involved in the regulation of food intake, cell proliferation and angiogenesis.
Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of serum apelin in type 1 diabetic patients and to its correlation with glycemic control.
Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 Egyptian subjects including 60 type 1 diabetic patients admitted to Endocrinology and Diabetes inpatient and outpatient clinics, Ain Shams University Hospitals and 40 healthy control subjects, during the period from June 2019 to January 2020.
 Results: plasma apelin levels were significantly higher in diabetic group when compared to controls. Significant negative correlation was found between the apelin level and HbA1c. The best cut off value of apelin between diabetic and control is > 180 with 99.7% accuracy. Serum apelin ≥180 (ng/L) had sensitivity of 96.6 %, moderate specificity of 97.5%, positive predictive value of 98.3% and Negative Predictive value of 95.1%.
Conclusion: Increased levels of serum apelin in T1DM patients could be considered as promising adipokine for the development of diabetic complications.