Relationship of serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein with microvascular complications in type 2 diabetes

Objective To evaluate whether high sensitivity C-reactive protein is associated with microvascular complications in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods A total of 321 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were recruited.According to the results of 8 h urine albumin excretion rate,ophthalmoscope examination and nerve conduction velocity test,nephropathy,retinopathy and neuropathy were defined respectively.To evaluate differences of the serum hsCRP levels of those with and without nephropathy,retinopathy and neuropathy.Results Only diabetic nephropathy correlated with the serum hsCRP level.With increment of urine albumin excretion rate,hsCRP level was increased.Pearson correlation analysis indicated that hsCRP correlated positively with urine albumin excretion rate(r=0.448,P=0.002),triglyceride(r=0.385,P=0.008),and body mass index(r=0.261,P=0.004).Stepwise linear regression showed that hsCRP and UAER,TG and BMI existed linear correlation.Conclusion hsCRP is associated with diabetic nephropathy and its level is correlated with the degree of diabetic nephropathy.