Objectives: This study aimed to determine whether elevated serum levels of glycated albumin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha were related to an increased risk for coronary artery disease (CAD) and renal insufficiency in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
Design and methods: Serum levels of glycated albumin, hsCRP, TNF-alpha and blood glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) were measured in 317 consecutive patients with T2DM and 309 normal controls. Patients with T2DM were grouped based upon coronary angiographic findings (Group I: 151 patients with normal coronary arteries; Group II: 166 patients with significant coronary stenosis [>70% luminal diameter narrowing]) and renal functional status evaluated by estimated creatinine clearance (CrCl) (normal renal function group: 187 patients with CrCl >90 mL/min; mild renal insufficiency group: 103 patients with CrCl 60-90 mL/min; moderate renal insufficiency group: 27 patients with CrCl 30-60 mL/min). Multivariate analysis was performed to determine independent risk factors for CAD and renal insufficiency in patients with T2DM.
Results: Serum levels of glycated albumin, hsCRP and TNF-alpha were significantly higher in Group II than in controls (P<0.01) and Group I (P<0.01). A significant difference was found in glycated albumin, hsCRP and TNF-alpha levels among diabetic patients with mild, moderate renal insufficiency and normal renal function (P<0.05). These biochemical measurements correlated significantly with number of diseased coronary vessels (P<0.01) and status of renal function (P<0.05). No difference existed in HbA1c levels between Group II and Group I, and among patients with various CrCL stages. Multivariate analysis revealed that male gender, old age and serum levels of glycated albumin, hsCRP, TNF-alpha and lipoprotein (a) were independent risk factors for CAD, and older age, hypertension and glycated albumin were for CrCl <60 mL/min in diabetes.
Conclusions: Increased serum levels of glycated albumin, hsCRP and TNF-alpha are associated with the presence and severity of CAD and renal impairment in patients with T2DM.