Vol 3, No 4 (2002): Practical Diabetology
Other materials agreed with the Editors
Published online: 2002-09-25
Elevated C-reactive protein associates with early-stage carotid atherosclerosis in young subjects with type 1 diabetes
Diabetologia Praktyczna 2002;3(4):255-264.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION. To evaluate whether low-grade inflammation
contributes to early-stage advanced carotid
atherosclerosis in young subjects with type 1
diabetes.
MATERIAL AND METHODS. The mean and maximum (max) intima-media thicknesses (IMT) of the carotid artery were assessed using ultrasound B-mode imaging in 55 patients with type 1 diabetes (22 men and 33 women, aged 22.1 ± 3.6 years (± SD), duration of diabetes 14.2 ± 5.7 years) and 75 age-matched healthy nondiabetic subjects (28 men and 47 women). High-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels were measured with a latex-enhanced immunonephelometer.
RESULTS. The patients with type 1 diabetes had significantly higher hs-CRP levels (median 0.35, range 0.05–1.47 mg/l vs. median 0.14, range 0.05–1.44 mg/l; P = 0.001) as well as significantly higher mean IMT and max IMT than the nondiabetic subjects (mean IMT 0.76 ± 0.09 vs. 0.72 ± 0.04 mm, P = 0.003; max IMT 0.84 ± 0.11 vs. 0.77 ± 0.06 mm, P < 0.0001). Hs-CRP levels were significantly correlated with the mean and max IMT of patients with type 1 diabetes and with the max IMT of nondiabetic patients. Multivariate regression analyses for both diabetic and nondiabetic subjects as a single group showed that hs-CRP levels are independently correlated with the mean IMT and max IMT levels (P = 0.002 and P = = 0.023, respectively) as well as with diastolic blood pressure, sex, and duration of diabetes.
CONCLUSIONS. Our data indicate that hs-CRP levels are elevated in young patients with type 1 diabetes, possibly corresponding with early-stage advanced carotid atherosclerosis.
MATERIAL AND METHODS. The mean and maximum (max) intima-media thicknesses (IMT) of the carotid artery were assessed using ultrasound B-mode imaging in 55 patients with type 1 diabetes (22 men and 33 women, aged 22.1 ± 3.6 years (± SD), duration of diabetes 14.2 ± 5.7 years) and 75 age-matched healthy nondiabetic subjects (28 men and 47 women). High-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels were measured with a latex-enhanced immunonephelometer.
RESULTS. The patients with type 1 diabetes had significantly higher hs-CRP levels (median 0.35, range 0.05–1.47 mg/l vs. median 0.14, range 0.05–1.44 mg/l; P = 0.001) as well as significantly higher mean IMT and max IMT than the nondiabetic subjects (mean IMT 0.76 ± 0.09 vs. 0.72 ± 0.04 mm, P = 0.003; max IMT 0.84 ± 0.11 vs. 0.77 ± 0.06 mm, P < 0.0001). Hs-CRP levels were significantly correlated with the mean and max IMT of patients with type 1 diabetes and with the max IMT of nondiabetic patients. Multivariate regression analyses for both diabetic and nondiabetic subjects as a single group showed that hs-CRP levels are independently correlated with the mean IMT and max IMT levels (P = 0.002 and P = = 0.023, respectively) as well as with diastolic blood pressure, sex, and duration of diabetes.
CONCLUSIONS. Our data indicate that hs-CRP levels are elevated in young patients with type 1 diabetes, possibly corresponding with early-stage advanced carotid atherosclerosis.
Keywords: C-reactive proteindiabetesintima-media thickness