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Updated: Jun 15, 2026

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Published on: October 15, 2010
[Inflammation markers and endothelial disfunction in children with type 1 diabetes]
María S Velarde1, Teresita Del R Carrizo, María M Prado
1Cátedra de Práctica Hospitalaria, Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán.
Insights
Early diabetes involves subclinical inflammation, increasing C-reactive protein (CRP) and fibrinogen. This study found elevated inflammatory markers and endothelial activation in type 1 diabetes patients, suggesting a pro-inflammatory state.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Immunology
- Cardiovascular Science
Background:
- Subclinical inflammation is an early indicator in diabetes, characterized by elevated cytokines.
- These cytokines stimulate acute-phase protein synthesis (e.g., C-reactive protein) and endothelial dysfunction.
- Endothelial dysfunction involves increased expression of adhesion molecules.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate pro-inflammatory and endothelial activation states in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes (DT1).
- To assess the relationship between inflammatory markers, endothelial activation markers, and diabetes duration.
- To evaluate specific laboratory parameters associated with early diabetes complications.
Main Methods:
- Studied 30 patients with DT1 (15 boys, 15 girls) without vascular complications.
- Assessed laboratory parameters: leukocyte count, ESR, fasting glucose, HbA1c, high-sensitivity CRP (uPCR), soluble E-selectin (sE-S), VCAM-1, and microalbuminuria.
- Compared results with a control group and analyzed correlations based on diabetes duration.
Main Results:
- DT1 patients showed significantly increased levels of uPCR, sE-S, and VCAM-1 compared to controls.
- Patients with diabetes duration > 3 years had higher uPCR levels.
- uPCR levels correlated positively with sE-S (r=0.44, p=0.03) and VCAM-1 (r=0.49, p=0.02).
Conclusions:
- The findings suggest the presence of pro-inflammatory states and endothelial activation in DT1.
- These states are strongly associated with type 1 diabetes, even in the absence of overt vascular complications.
- Early inflammatory and endothelial markers may serve as indicators for disease progression and risk stratification.
Abstract:
A subclinical inflammation state was detected in the early step of diabetes, which increases the serum levels of cytokines that induce acute-phase protein synthesis as C-reactive protein (PCR) and fibrinogen (Fg), stimulating the endothelial disfunction of adhesion molecules. Thirty patients (15 boys, 15 girls) with type 1 diabetes (DT1), without vascular complications, were studied. Their mean age and duration of diabetes were 11.8 +/- 2.1 and 3.9 +/- 3.2 years, respectively. The laboratory parameters evaluated were: blood leukocytes count, globular sedimentation velocity, fasting glycemia, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), high sensitivity PCR (uPCR), plasma soluble E-selectin (sE-S), sVCAM-1 and microalbuminuria. Increased levels of uPCR, sE-S and VCAM-1 were found, compared with the control group control [0.60 (0.30-1.25) vs. 0.20 (0.20-0.65) mg/l, p = 0.013], [108 (60-150) vs. 68 (56-82) ng/ml, p = 0.0031] y [750 (708-826) vs. 721 (674-751) ng/ml, p = 0.039] respectively. When diabetic patients were grouped according to duration of disease (3 and > de 3 years), uPCR values were higher in the second group. uPCR levels were better correlated with sE-S (r = 0.44, p = 0.03) and VCAM-1 (r = 0.49, p = 0.02). These results suggest the presence of pro-inflammatory and endothelial activation states, which are strongly associated with DT1.
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