Diabetes and Inflammation; Association Between C-Reactive Protein and Diabetic Nephropathy in Rawalpindi

Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency of elevated C-reactive protein in type 2 diabetics and to compare the levels of C-reactive protein between people with diabetes and non-diabetics nephropathy among the population of Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

Methodology: This cross-sectional study Diabetic and Medical OPD of Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi from January 2019 to July 2019. A total of 150 patients who had type 2 diabetes, aged between 35 to 60 years, irrespective of gender, were included. Blood samples were collected for blood sugar random, fasting, renal function test, WBC count, and C-reactive protein. Urine samples were collected for the measurement of 24-hour urinary proteins. The presence or absence of proteinuria was used to categorize patients into two groups. Group A consisted of 58 patients with type 2 diabetes who did not have nephropathy, and Group B consisted of 92 patients with type 2 diabetes who had nephropathy (proteinuria greater than 30 mg/dl in 24 hours).

Results: The mean age in our study was 49.41+7.66. Ninety-two patients (61.3%) presented with diabetic nephropathy. CRP levels (> 8200 ng/ml) were raised in 50 (54.3%) patients of group B and 19 (32.8%) patients of group A. The difference was statistically significant (p-value 0.010).

Conclusion: This study showed a higher prevalence of raised CRP in type 2 diabetics with nephropathy. This reinforces the idea that low-grade inflammation has an essential role in the inception and evolution of diabetic renal disease.