Serum chemerin and high-sensitivity C reactive protein as markers of subclinical atherosclerosis in Egyptian patients with type 2 diabetes.
BACKGROUND
Chemerin is one of the adipokines that regulate fat metabolism. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) may be considered as a cardiovascular risk predictor. Measuring intima-media thickness of the CCA (C-IMT) is a well-evidenced tool for the detection of early stages of atherosclerosis. We aimed here to study both serum chemerin and hs-CRP as markers of subclinical atherosclerosis in Egyptian patients with type 2 diabetes, who are angiographically free of coronary artery disease (CAD).


METHODS
This cross-sectional study was conducted on 180 subjects divided into two groups: Group A included 90 type 2 diabetic patients without CAD and group B including 90 nondiabetic control subjects. All study subjects were having normal coronary angiography. Serum chemerin, homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), lipid profile, hs-CRP as well as C-IMT were assessed in all study subjects.


RESULTS
There was a statistically significant difference between the 2 groups regarding serum chemerin level, HOMA-IR, hs-CRP and C-IMT; being higher in the diabetic patients than in the control group (p = 0.006, 0.024, 0.040 and <0.001, respectively). There was positive correlation between serum chemerin level and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), HOMA-IR, hs-CRP and C-IMT. Carotid intima-media thickness was positively correlated with patients' WHR, blood pressure, HbA1c, diabetes duration as well as hs-CRP, and negatively correlated with ankle-brachial index (ABI). Linear regression analysis showed that HbA1c, serum chemerin and hs-CRP were independently affecting C-IMT. Serum hs-CRP was positively correlated with HbA1c and HOMA-IR (p = 0.006 and 0.032, respectively), and negatively correlated with HDL-cholesterol level (p = 0.018).


CONCLUSIONS
Both serum chemerin and hs-CRP could be considered as markers of subclinical atherosclerosis, and hence, may be utilized for the early detection of macrovascular disease, in Egyptian patients with type 2 diabetes.
Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
Nagwa A
NA
Lachine
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
Abdel Aziz
AA
Elnekiedy
Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
Magdy Helmy
MH
Megallaa
Department of Chemical Pathology, Medical Research, University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt.
Gihane I
GI
Khalil
Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
Mohamed A
MA
Sadaka
Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
Kamel H
KH
Rohoma
Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
Heba S
HS
Kassab
Homeostasis Model Assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR); chemerin; common carotid artery; high-sensitivity C-reactive protein; type 2 diabetes