Inflammation and emerging risk factors in diabetes mellitus and atherosclerosis

Type 2 diabetes mellitus and atherosclerosis are complex and progressive conditions that share several common antecedents. Recent data suggest that inflammation may play a central role in the origins and complications of cardiovascular disease and, possibly, type 2 diabetes mellitus. C-reactive protein and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 are circulating markers of low-grade inflammation, thrombosis, and vascular injury. Together with homocysteine, they have been associated with the underlying inflammatory processes and are considered to be "nontraditional" risk factors of atherosclerosis. The role of their measurement in clinical practice remains unclear. In this article, we review the available evidence demonstrating a link between inflammation, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. We discuss how therapeutic agents used for both cardiovascular disease and diabetes modulate the inflammatory responses and possibly attenuate the complications of these two chronic disorders that cause significant morbidity and mortality.