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Raised C‐reactive protein levels in patients with recent onset type 1 diabetes
Author(s) -
Picardi A.,
Valorani M. G.,
Vespasiani Gentilucci U.,
Manfrini S.,
Ciofini O.,
Cappa M.,
Guglielmi C.,
Pozzilli P.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
diabetes/metabolism research and reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.307
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1520-7560
pISSN - 1520-7552
DOI - 10.1002/dmrr.671
Subject(s) - c reactive protein , medicine , percentile , body mass index , gastroenterology , endocrinology , insulin , diabetes mellitus , inflammation , statistics , mathematics
Abstract Background To investigate serum concentrations of high‐sensitive C‐reactive protein (CRP) and alpha(1)‐acid glycoprotein (AGP) in patients with T1DM, at diagnosis and after 12 months of intensive insulin therapy (T12). Methods CRP and AGP were measured in 44 recent onset T1DM patients (26M/18F, mean age 14.9 ± 9.1 years), and 44 age‐ and sex‐matched controls, using a highly sensitive immunonephelometric assay. Results There were no significant differences in the concentrations of high‐sensitive C‐reactive protein (hs‐CRP) and AGP between patients and controls. hs‐CRP levels significantly increased in patients at T12 compared to the levels at diagnosis [0.69 (0.14–15.5) versus 0.43 (0.14–7.47) mg/L, p < 0.05; for males: 0.77 (0.14–15.5) versus 0.35 (0.14–7.47) mg/L, p < 0.05; for females the increase was not significant]. AGP levels were not different at T12 compared to diagnosis. No significant correlations were found between hs‐CRP and body mass index (BMI), C‐peptide, glycosylated haemoglobin, or insulin dose. A strong correlation was found between hs‐CRP values at diagnosis and those at T12 (ρ = 0.73, p < 0.001); indeed, patients with hs‐CRP levels above the 50th percentile at diagnosis showed significantly increased hs‐CRP values at T12 compared to patients with baseline hs‐CRP levels under the 50th percentile [1.61 (0.18–15.5) versus 0.16 (0.14–1.92) mg/L, p < 0.0001)], and to controls [0.55 (0.14–6.50), p = 0.001]. Conclusions This is the first report showing that, despite good metabolic control, 1 year of overt T1DM is sufficient to increase hs‐CRP levels, especially in males. hs‐CRP levels at diagnosis is a predictor for the values observed at 12 months, suggesting the possibility to select a subgroup of patients requiring strict follow‐up for cardiovascular complications. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.