A comparative study on C-reactive protein and gamma-glutamyl transferase as novel inflammatory markers of type 2 diabetes mellitus

Tushar Kanti Bandyopadhyay purulia Govt. Medical College, purulia, West Bengal, India. e-mail: drtkban011@gmail.com IntroductIon research in the last few years has linked oxidative stress (oS) and inflammation to β-cell dysfunction resulting from chronic exposure to hyperglycemia (1, 2), free fatty acids, or a combination of the two. A growing body of data (3) reinforces the concept that inflammation also plays an important role in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitu (dM) and links dM with concomitant conditions with inflammatory components. dM is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from defects of insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. type 2 dM is caused by a combination of resistance of insulin action and an inadequate compensatory insulin secretory response. this form of dM accounts for approximately 90%–95% of those with dM and was previously referred to as noninsulin-dependent dM (nIddM) or adult-onset dM. Prospective studies have described that a high level of gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGt) is associated with the subsequent development of diabetes. recently, serum GGt has been recognized as a marker of oxidative stress. Indeed oxidative processes are key components of chronic inflammation acting on multiple pathways and amplifying inflammatory reactions. Further activation of inflammatory processes may contribute to the development of type 2 dM (5-7). c-reactive protein (crP) is considered to be a major inflammatory cytokine that functions as a nonspecific defense mechanism in response to tissue injury or infection. recent prospective studies have suggested a relationship between an elevated level of crP an increasing risk of developing type 2 dM (8-10). ABSTRACT Studies in the last few years have linked oxidative stress and inflammation to beta-cell function resulting from chronic exposure to hyperglycemia. Recent prospective trials have suggested that an elevated level of C-reactive protein and gamma-glutamyl transferase enzyme is associated with subsequent development of diabetes. The present study aimed to examine the relationship between gamma-glutamyl transferase and the marker of inflammation C-reactive protein in patients with diabetes. The study was conducted on 300 patients, including 100 healthy controls and 200 patients with type 2 diabetes. Plasma glucose levels (fasting and postprandial), serum levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, levels of glycosylated hemoglobin, and serum gamma-glutamyl transferase hepatic enzyme levels were measured. The mean high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and gamma-glutamyl transferase levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were significantly higher than the values in controls (P < 0.0010). Further, a significant positive correlation was observed between gamma-glutamyl transferase levels and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels in patients with type 2 diabetics (r = 0.312, P = 0.001). The increase in the levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and gamma-glutamyl transferase in patients with diabetes and their significant association might be a result of inflammation and oxidative stress in diabetes mellitus.