title: Association between diabetes complications and leukocyte counts in Iranian patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The long term complications of diabetes can be fatal. They are also renowned for being an economic burden. Previous studies have demonstrated a relationship between inflammatory markers and complications of diabetes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between leukocyte counts and these complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 184 patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. The study was carried out in Iran during 2007 and 2008. Data collected on the subjects were as follows: age, gender, weight, height, blood pressure, smoking history, lipid profile including low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL), total cholesterol, triglycerides, and leukocyte count, albuminuria, and retinopathy. Furthermore, information on cardiac history for 100 patients was collected. The subjects were split into two groups according to their leukocyte levels: low (≤7000/mm(3)) and high (>7000/mm(3)); and then analyzed by Student's t-test or Mann-Whitney U-test as appropriate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average leukocyte count in these patients was 7594 ± 1965/mm(3). Leukocyte count was significantly different in patients with and without retinopathy and albuminuria (P < 0.0001). According to this analysis, a leukocyte count of 6750/mm(3) with a sensitivity of 80.2% and a specificity of 56.4%, and a count of 7550/mm(3) with a sensitivity of 63.2% and a specificity of 74.6% indicated at least one diabetes complication.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An elevated leukocyte count even within the normal range was associated with chronic complications in type 2 diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Endocrine and Metabolism Research Center (Firouzgar), Hemmat Campus, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Sedigheh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moradi
authors.forename: Scott Reza Jafarian
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Kerman
authors.forename: Farzaneh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rohani
authors.forename: Fereshteh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Salari