The relevance of inflammatory markers in metabolic syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: To identify how severe is inflammation in metabolic syndrome using as inflammatory markers: C-reactive protein and leukocytes. To asses these markers considering the diversity of metabolic syndrome elements. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We performed a study that enrolled 258 patients registered to a family physician and diagnosed with metabolic syndrome. The subjects included in the study were divided in two groups: group A-137 subjects diagnosed with metabolic syndrome that was defined by 3 elements: abdominal obesity+arterial hypertension+diabetes mellitus; group B-121 patients diagnosed with metabolic syndrome based on 5 elements: abdominal obesity+arterial hypertension+diabetes mellitus+decreased high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)+increased triglycerides. RESULTS: We observed increased values of CRP and leukocytes for group B in comparison to group A: 0.9±0.8 mg/dl vs 0.79±0.8 mg/dl (p=0.02, significantly statistic). Leukocytes value was higher for group B, but not significantly statistic. CONCLUSIONS: Inflammation in patients with metabolic syndrome depends on the number and association of elements that define this entity and it is more accentuated for subjects who associate more elements.