ABSTRACT

In our study we aimed to determine the hs-CRP, IL-6 and HbA1c levels and the possible relationship between serum IL-6 and HbA1c levels in diabetic patients with or without diabetic foot complications. The study was carried out at Ministry of Health Göztepe Training and Research Hospital in Surgery and Internal Medicine Clinics, on patients that were being monitored, of which 20 were diabetic with foot complications and 20 without, between the ages of 40-75. Twenty healthy people made up the control group. IL-6 levels were measured by chemiluminesans method (DPC Diagnostic Products Corporation, USA). Hs-CRP levels were measured by turbidimetric method (Biosystems S.A., Spain). Serum IL-6 and hs-CRP levels in both patient subgroups (22,22±35,46 pg/ml; 18,23±9,53 mg/L and 5,01±6,42 pg/ml; 11,00±8,58 mg/L) were found significantly higher compared to controls (2,09+0,72 pg/ml; 3,31+2,52mg/L) (p<0,01; p<0,01; p<0,01; p<0,01 respectively). There was also a significant difference for these test parameters between patient subgroups (p<0,01; p<0,05, respectively). There was a positive correlation between HbA1c and IL-6 in all the patients and the subgroup with complications (r=0,39; p<0,05 and r= 0,47; p<0,05, respectively). The lack of a similar correlation between HbA1c and IL-6 in patients without diabetic foot (r= -0,24; p>0,05) gives rise to the opinion that the inflammation indicators and Hb1Ac levels in patients with complications were more closely related. High levels of IL-6 and hs-CRP in type 2 diabetic patients, confirms the hypothesis that the inflammation is an important factor in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus.