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Hormone replacement therapy is associated with increased C-reactive protein in women with Type 2 diabetes in the

D W Bowden1, K Lohman, F-C Hsu

  • 1Department of Biochemistry, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA. dbowden@wfubmc.edu

Diabetic Medicine : a Journal of the British Diabetic Association
|July 18, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) significantly increases C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in post-menopausal women with Type 2 diabetes. This elevation suggests a potential increased cardiovascular risk, even in diabetic populations.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology and Metabolism
  • Cardiovascular Disease Research
  • Inflammation Biomarkers

Background:

  • Elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD).
  • Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may influence CRP levels, but its effect in women with Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is unclear.
  • Previous studies on HRT and CRP in T2DM have yielded conflicting results.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of HRT on CRP levels in post-menopausal women with T2DM.
  • To determine if HRT use is associated with higher CRP concentrations in this specific population.
  • To contribute to understanding the cardiovascular risks associated with HRT in diabetic women.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 327 post-menopausal women with T2DM from the Diabetes Heart Study.
  • Serum CRP levels were measured using a high-sensitivity ELISA kit.
  • Generalized estimating equation methods analyzed the relationship between HRT use and CRP levels, controlling for clinical and lifestyle factors.

Main Results:

  • Serum CRP levels were strongly associated with body mass index and age.
  • Women using HRT (HRT+) had significantly higher circulating CRP levels compared to those not using HRT (HRT-).
  • No significant differences in most clinical traits were observed between HRT+ and HRT- groups, except for higher LDL cholesterol in HRT- women.

Conclusions:

  • Consistent evidence indicates that oestrogen-containing HRT increases circulating CRP levels in women with T2DM.
  • The findings suggest that diabetic women using HRT may not be protected from potential adverse cardiovascular effects linked to elevated CRP.
  • Further research is needed to establish if HRT-induced CRP increases directly cause adverse cardiovascular events in this population.
Abstract

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