J Korean Diabetes Assoc.  2007 Nov;31(6):472-479. 10.4093/jkda.2007.31.6.472.

Inflammatory Markers are Associated with Microvascular Complications in Type 2 Diabetes

• Yang SM
• Kim SY
• Lee KY
• Kim YS
• Nam MS
• Park IB

• KMID: 2177560
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4093/jkda.2007.31.6.472

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory markers are known to be sensitive predictors of atherosclerotic disease such as coronary heart disease. Diabetic patients have higher level of inflammatory markers such as fibrinogen, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) or IL-6. We investigated the association of inflammatory markers with microvascular complications in type 2 diabetes.
METHODS
We studied cross-sectionally 244 consecutive patients with type 2 diabetes without macrovascular disease such as cerebral infarct, coronary heart disease and peripheral arterial disease. The urinary albumin/creatinine ratio was determined in a morning, untimed, urine specimen. Ophthalmoscopic examinations were performed to evaluate diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic neuropathy was examined by 10-g monofilament, Neuropathic Disability Score and Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument.
RESULTS
47 patients (23.5%) had diabetic retinopathy, 81 (34.6%) had nephropathy and 132 (54.2%) had neuropathy. Fibrinogen and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were significantly higher in the patients with nephropathy, retinopathy and neuropathy than in those without (P = 0.009, 0.003 and 0.047; P = 0.011, 0.02 and 0.006 , respectively). There were no differences in the hsCRP and IL-6 level between in patients with microvascular complications and in those without. Inflammatory parameters were correlated with each other. The hsCRP was correlated with IL-6 (r = 0.40, P < 0.001) and fibrinogen (r = 0.45, P < 0.001), but fibrinogen was not significantly correlated with IL-6 (r = 0.13, P = 0.08).
CONCLUSION
Although IL-6, hsCRP and fibrinogen may be associated with microvascular complications in type 2 diabetes, we show that fibrinogen is a strong marker of microvascular complications.

Keyword

Fibrinogen; hsCRP; IL-6; Inflammatory makers; Microvascular complications; Type 2 diabetes

MeSH Terms

Blood Sedimentation
C-Reactive Protein
Coronary Disease
Diabetic Neuropathies
Diabetic Retinopathy
Fibrinogen
Humans
Interleukin-6
Mass Screening
Michigan
Peripheral Arterial Disease
C-Reactive Protein
Fibrinogen
Interleukin-6

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