Association of C-reactive protein and insulin resistance in patients with chronic spinal cord injury.
OBJECTIVE
To study the association between C-reactive protein levels and insulin resistance in patients with spinal cord injury.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Forty-two subjects who had sustained spinal cord injuries at least 6 months before enrollment.


METHODS
Circulating glucose, insulin and C-reactive protein levels were measured after 12 hours' fasting. The homeo-stasis model insulin resistance index was used to evaluate insulin resistance. Insulin resistance and C-reactive protein levels were compared between complete/incomplete patients and between paraplegic/tetraplegic patients. The subjects were then divided into 3 groups (C-reactive protein levels < 1, 1-3, > 3 mg/l) to compare insulin resistance.


RESULTS
Eighteen (43%) subjects had C-reactive protein levels > 3 mg/l. The C-reactive protein levels and insulin resistance did not significantly differ between complete/incomplete or between paraplegic/tetraplegic subjects. However, insulin resistance in the high C-reactive protein group (>3 mg/l) differed significantly from that of the other 2 groups, and there was a significant correlation between C-reactive protein and insulin resistance, with r=0.7745.


CONCLUSIONS
Most young and middle-aged patients with chronic spinal cord injury with high C-reactive protein levels also have high insulin resistance, and their C-reactive protein levels have well correlated with insulin resistance.
Huang
Chun-Chiang
CC
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kaohsiung Municipal Hsiao-Kang Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Liu
Chin-Wei
CW
Weng
Ming-Cheng
MC
Chen
Tien-Wen
TW
Huang
Mao-Hsiung
MH
D000328:Adult; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D012307:Risk Factors; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*
D002097:C-Reactive Protein