title: Association between circulating leukocyte subtype counts and carotid intima-media thickness in Japanese subjects with type 2 diabetes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An increased leukocyte count is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular events, but the association between leukocyte subtype counts and carotid atherosclerosis in patients with diabetes has not been determined. We therefore investigated the correlation between leukocyte subtype counts and intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery (CCA-IMT) in subjects with type 2 diabetes.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study involved 484 in-patients with type 2 diabetes (282 males and 202 females), who were hospitalized for glycemic control and underwent carotid ultrasonography at Kumamoto University Hospital between 2005 and 2011. Mean and maximum CCA-IMT was measured by high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Univariate analyses revealed that mean CCA-IMT was positively correlated with age, systolic blood pressure, brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (PWV), urinary albumin excretion and duration of diabetes, but was negatively correlated with diastolic blood pressure and fasting plasma glucose. Maximum CCA-IMT was positively and negatively correlated with the same factors as mean CCA-IMT except for fasting plasma glucose. Mean CCA-IMT was positively correlated with total leukocyte (r = 0.124, p = 0.007), monocyte (r = 0.373, p < 0.001), neutrophil (r = 0.139, p = 0.002) and eosinophil (r = 0.107, p = 0.019) counts. Maximum CCA-IMT was positively correlated with total leukocyte (r = 0.154, p < 0.001), monocyte (r = 0.398, p < 0.001), neutrophil (r = 0.152, p < 0.001) and basophil counts (r = 0.102, p = 0.027). Multiple regression analyses showed that monocyte count, age and PWV were significant and independent factors associated with mean CCA-IMT (adjusted R2 = 0.239, p < 0.001), and that monocyte count, age and urinary albumin excretion were significant and independent factors associated with maximum CCA-IMT (adjusted R2 = 0.277, p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Monocyte counts were positively correlated with both mean CCA-IMT and maximum CCA-IMT in patients with type 2 diabetes. Monocyte count may be a useful predictor of macrovascular complications in patients with type 2 diabetes.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Trial registry no: UMIN000003526.
authors.affiliation: Department of Metabolic Medicine, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan. takeshim@gpo.kumamoto-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsumura
authors.forename: Kayo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Taketa
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Motoshima
authors.forename: Takafumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Senokuchi
authors.forename: Norio
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ishii
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kinoshita
authors.forename: Kazuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fukuda
authors.forename: Sarie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kukidome
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kondo
authors.forename: Aya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hisada
authors.forename: Takahiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Katoh
authors.forename: Seiya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shimoda
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nishikawa
authors.forename: Eiichi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Araki
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000419:Albuminuria / Q000150:complications; D055109:Ankle Brachial Index; D044466:Asian People; D001786:Blood Glucose; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D004804:Eosinophils; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes; D009504:Neutrophils; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents