Serum C-reactive protein in Nigerians with type II diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Background: C-reactive protein  is  an  acute-phase proteins, produce in the liver, its release is stimulated by cytokines (interleukin 6 and tumour necrosis factor alpha). Elevated level of it is a risk factor for coronary heart disease. Baseline levels of C-reactive protein in apparently healthy men and women predict long-term risk of a first myocardial infarction. Diabetics are at increased risk for coronary heart disease, data from the Framingham Study showed a two-to three-fold elevation in the risk of clinically evident atherosclerotic disease in patients with type II diabetes compared to those without diabetes. However, but data regarding CRP in Nigerian diabetic is lacking.

Objectives: The study was to determine serum C-reactive protein in Nigerian with Type II diabetes mellitus

Methods: The study design was cross-sectional conducted among patients attending out patient clinic of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals complex (OAUTHC) Ile Ife, Osun State south western Nigeria. Measurement of C- reactive protein was based on the principle of solid phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results: A total of 125 consecutive subjects were recruited comprising 75 patients with type II diabetes mellitus with or without hypertension and 50 apparently healthy age-and-sex comparable controls. There was a significant difference between the mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures of the patients and controls. The fasting blood glucose and C-reactive protein  were  significantly higher  in  diabetics  compared  to  controls. There was a positive and significant correlation between FBG and CRP in both patients and controls.

Conclusion: This study showed that diabetics have significantly higher serum C-reactive protein compared to the apparently controls. Also there was a positive and significant correlation between C-reactive protein and fasting blood glucose among both patients and controls.

Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, C-reactive protein, Coronary heart disease