Relationships between the levels of interleukin-18 and cystatin C, and arterial intima-media thickness of lower extremity in type 2 diabetic patients

ObjectiveTo investigate the relationhsips between the levels of interleukin 18 (IL-18) and cystatin C (CysC), and lower extremity vascular lesions in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients, and its clinical significance.

MethodsOne hundred and twelve patients with T2DM and 30 healthy people were divided into the group A and group B, respectively.According to the arterial intima-media thickness (IMT) of lower extremity vascular detected by ultrasound, the group A was divided into the subgroup A1 (IMT < 1.0 mm), subgroup A2 (1.0 mm ≤ IMT < 1.3 mm) and subgroup A3 (IMT ≥ 1.3 mm).The levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG), glycosylated hemoglobin, blood lipid, creatinine, IL-18 and CysC were measured in all groups.

ResultsThe levels of serum IL-18 and CysC in group A were higher than those in group B (P < 0.01).The serum levels of IL-18 and CysC in A3 and A2 subgroups were higher than those in A1 and A2 subgroups, and subgroup A1, respectively (P < 0.05).Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that the levels of IL-18, CysC, total cholesterol and FBG were positively correlated with the IMT of lower extremity vascular.

ConclusionsThe serum levels of IL-18 and CysC are the main influencing factors of IMT, and correlated with the T2DM and IMT of lower limb artery.