Markers of inflammation in type 1 diabetic patients

Abstract

To evaluate markers of inflammation, we studied 48 patients with type 1 diabetes [DM1, 23F:25M, 19.9+/-9.8 years and duration of DM of 5 (1-21) years& and 66 non-DM subjects, matched for sex, age, and stages of puberty according to Tanner. C-reactive protein (CRP), alpha1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) and fibrinogen were measured by turbidimetric immunoassay and urinary albumin excretion rate (AER) was determined in timed overnight urine samples by RIA. Microalbuminuria was defined when two out of three urine samples had AER ranging 20-200 microg/min. Retinopathy was evaluated by indirect ophthalmoscopic in DM patients. The CRP and AGP levels were higher in DM1 patients as compared to controls, respectively [0.23 (0.01-2.90) vs. 0.14 (0.01-2.41) mg/dl, p= 0.0172& and [53.5 (37-115) vs. 40 (19-78) mg/dl, p< 0.0001]. Fibrinogen levels were not different between both groups. Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that HbA1c and plasma glucose were the independents predictive variables of AGP, respectively (r2= 0.26; p< 0.05 and r2= 0,29; p< 0,05); CRP and fibrinogen did not correlate significantly with the independents variables. PCR correlate with HbA1c (r= 0.18; p= 0.05) by Pearson's correlation. In conclusion, CRP and AGP were higher in DM1 patients, without microalbuminuria, retinopathy and clinical macrovascular disease. Prospective studies must be addressed to determine the influence of AGP and CRP in the development of chronic complications.