title: C-reactive protein as a marker of progression of carotid atherosclerosis in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This prospective study was designed to evaluate the effect of inflammatory markers on the presence and progression of subclinical markers of carotid atherosclerosis in a 3.8-year follow-up period in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 595 subjects with T2DM were enrolled. Subclinical markers of carotid atherosclerosis (carotid intima media thickness (CIMT), plaque thickness, and plaques presence) were assessed with ultrasound at the time of recruitment and again after 3.8 years. Subjects with T2DM were divided into 2 groups according to the plasma high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels (subjects with hs-CRP ≥ 2 mg/L and subjects with hs-CRP below 2 mg/L).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subjects with T2DM and hs-CRP levels ≥ 2 mg/L had higher CIMT in comparison with subjects with T2DM and hs-CRP levels below 2 mg/L, and higher incidence of plaques/unstable plaques in comparison with subjects with T2DM and hs-CRP levels below 2 mg/L. Multivariate logistic regression analysis found the association between the HDL cholesterol level and presence of plaques, whereas the inflammatory marker hs-CRP was not associated with subclinical markers of progression of carotid atherosclerosis. Multiple linear regression analysis found the association between the hs-CRP levels and either CIMT progression rate or a change in the number of sites with plaques in a 3.8-year follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We demonstrated an association between the inflammatory marker hs-CRP and either CIMT or incidence of plaques/unstable plaques at the time of recruitment in Caucasians with T2DM. Moreover, we found the association between hs-CRP levels and either CIMT progression rate or a change in the number of sites with plaques in a 3.8-year follow-up in subjects with T2DM.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Cardiology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Aleš
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pleskovič
authors.affiliation: 2 General Hospital Rakičan, Murska Sobota, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Marija Šantl
authors.initials: MŠ
authors.lastname: Letonja
authors.affiliation: 3 General Hospital Slovenj Gradec, Slovenj Gradec, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Andreja Cokan
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Vujkovac
authors.affiliation: 4 Institute of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.|5 University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Jovana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nikolajević Starčević
authors.affiliation: 6 Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Nursing and Professional Health Studies, Slovak Medical University, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.|7 Department of General Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Slovak Medical University, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: Katarina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gazdikova
authors.affiliation: 8 2. Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caprnda
authors.affiliation: 8 2. Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: Ludovit
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gaspar
authors.affiliation: 9 Research and Development Services, Brno, Czech Republic.|10 Department of Chemical Drugs, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic.|11 2. Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University and St. Anne's University Hospital, Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kruzliak
authors.affiliation: 4 Institute of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.|5 University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Danijel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Petrovič
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood*; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017524:Slovenia / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: Carotid atherosclerosis; high sensitive C-reactive protein; inflammation; prospective study