title: The association between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein concentration and diabetic nephropathy: a meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the association between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) concentration and diabetic nephropathy (DN).
  
  
  METHODS
  We systematically searched Pubmed, Medline and Embase databases up to September, 2014 for the relevant studies. Heterogeneity across studies was evaluated by Cochran's Q test and I2 statistic. The standard mean difference (SMD) and the corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) were combined to evaluate the effect size. Sensitivity analysis was also performed by omitting each study to evaluate the stability of the results. In addition, publication bias was tested by Egger's test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 11 studies containing 1 331 cases and 1 779 controls were included in this study. Significant heterogeneities were observed in our results. The result of meta-analysis showed that the hs-CRP concentrations in DN patients were significantly higher than that in controls of healthy people and diabetes mellitus (DM) patients without nephropathy. In addition, the hs-CRP concentration in macroalbuminuria (D3) group was significantly higher than that in microalbuminuria (D2) group and non-albuminuria group (D1). Sensitivity analysis revealed that the results were stable. As well, no publication bias was observed in our results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We suggest that hs-CRP concentration can be an indicator of DN in DM patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obesity and Metabolism, Key Laboratory of Hormones and Development (Ministry of Health), Metabolic Diseases Hospital and Tianjin Institute of Endocrinology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China. liudt6@163.com.
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: C-Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: B-X
authors.initials: BX
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Meng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000419:Albuminuria / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein