title: Association of C-reactive protein and insulin resistance in patients with chronic spinal cord injury.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kaohsiung Municipal Hsiao-Kang Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chun-Chiang
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Chin-Wei
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ming-Cheng
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Weng
authors.forename: Tien-Wen
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Mao-Hsiung
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein