title: Serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein is associated with carotid intima-media thickness in type 2 diabetes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  High sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) is more sensitive than standard C-reactive protein (CRP) assay in evaluating the risk of coronary heart disease and other atherosclerotic events. By this time, there are several reports that type 2 diabetic subjects have higher serum levels of hsCRP than those of non-diabetic subjects. However, there are few reports about factors which have influence upon the level of serum hsCRP in type 2 diabetic subjects. We had evaluated the association of serum hsCRP level with risk factors of cardiovascular diseases and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in type 2 diabetic subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and five patients (59 men and 46 women) with type 2 diabetes were recruited. Subjects with severe cardiovascular diseases were excluded. All subjects were undergone carotid ultrasonography for evaluation of carotid IMT. Serum hsCRP concentrations were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum hsCRP level was correlated with mean left IMT (r = 0.366, P = 0.003), maximal left IMT (r = 0.370, P = 0.002), mean right IMT (r = 0.281, P = 0.023) and maximal right IMT (r = 0.370, P = 0.002), body mass index (r = 0.377, P < 0.001), waist circumference (r = 0.342, P < 0.001), waist-hip ratio (r = 0.229, P = 0.020), serum total cholesterol (r = 0.202, P = 0.024), serum triglyceride (r = 0.292, P = 0.022) and serum low-density lipoprotein (r = 0.133, P = 0.044).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our result shows that serum hsCRP level is correlated with carotid IMT and the risk factors of cardiovascular diseases and may be useful to predict accelerated atherosclerotic process in type 2 diabetic subjects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea. endohclee@yumc.yonsei.ac.kr
authors.forename: Eun Seok
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Hae Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yoo Mee
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sihoon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Bong Soo
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Cha
authors.forename: Sung Kil
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Hyung Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyun Chul
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure; D049628:Body Size; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000473:pathology*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology*; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology*; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D002097:C-Reactive Protein