Significance of Determining Inflammatory Markers and Carotid Artery Intima Media Thickness Values in the Detection of Coronary Heart Disease in Asymptomatic Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Malesevic G, Abraham KH, Jamila MM and Almaz AA

Published on: 2025-05-15

Abstract

Introduction: Increased levels of high-sensitivity C - reactive protein (hs-CRP) and Interleukin 6 (IL-6) accelerates atherosclerosis and occurrence of cardiovascular complications in patients with Type 2 Diabetes (T2D). Intima-Media Thickness (IMT) is a surrogate marker of atherosclerosis in patients with T2D. The aim of the study was to evaluate the relation inflammatory markers IL-6, hs-CRP and carotid atherosclerosis with the presence of Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) in asymptomatic patients with T2D.

Methods: The study included 169 patients with T2D, without any symptoms and signs of CHD. Exercise stress testing proved or ruled out the presence of silent CHD. Carotid ultrasonography was performed and IMT was measured. The levels of hs-CRP and IL-6 were determined by ELISA.

Results: The presence of silent CHD was proven in 52 subjects using ergometric testing, while 117 subjects were without CHD. Higher values of IL-6, hs-CRP and IMT were correlated with silent CHD.

Age, HbA1c, LDL cholesterol and albuminuria values were significant predictors of silent CHD (p<0.05). Other analysed risk factors: gender, smoking, duration of T2D, BMI, hypertension, total cholesterol and triglycerides were not related to the presence of CHD.

Conclusion: It was proven that there was a greater possibility of the presence of silent CHD in asymptomatic patients with T2D with higher values of IMT (p<0.05), IL-6 (p<0.05) and hs-CRP (p<0.001).