Clinical significance of serum visfatin levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus with cerebral infarction

Objective To investigate whether visfatin is a risk factor involved in the occurrence and development of cerebral infarction and its relationship with tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and C- reactive protein (CRP) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus complicated by cerebral infarction. Methods A total of 110 patients were divided into simple type 2 diabetes mellitus group (group A) of 40 cases, type 2 diabetes mellitus combined with cerebral infarction group (group B) of 70 cases; another 40 healthy subjects were selected as normal control group (group C) of 40 cases. The general biochemical indexes and serum visfatin levels of the three groups were measured. Results Compared with group C, the levels of visfatin, TNF-α and CRP in serum of group A and group B significantly increased (P<0.05). Compared with group A, the levels of visfatin, TNF-α and CRP in group B significantly increased (P<0.05). The level of serum visfatin was positively correlated with the levels of TNF-α and CRP. Conclusions Visfatin is an independent risk factor of type 2 diabetes mellitus complicated by cerebral infarction and is closely corelated with TNF-α, CRP. Key words: Type 2 diabetes mellitus; Cerebral infarction; Visfatin