Hs-CRP is associated with weight, BMI, and female sex but not with endothelial function in children with type 1 diabetes

Abstract

Background: Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory process, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP), a marker of inflammation, predicts cardiovascular events in adults. Vascular endothelial and smooth muscle dysfunction, measurable precursors of atherosclerosis, begin in childhood. Therefore, we sought to determine if Hs-CRP is associated with vascular endothelial and smooth muscle dysfunction in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and healthy control subjects.

Methods: Hs-CRP and endothelial function assessed by flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) and smooth muscle function assessed by glyceryl-trinitrate (GTN)-induced dilatation were measured in 121 subjects with T1DM aged 14.1 (2.9) yr, of whom 31 were also studied at 4 and 8 wk, and in 33 healthy controls aged 14.2 (3.6) yr.

Results: Hs-CRP did not differ between subjects with T1DM and healthy, age-matched controls. In both controls and subjects with T1DM, Hs-CRP did not relate to FMD or GTN at baseline or at intervals over 8 wk in T1DM. Hs-CRP did not change over time. In T1DM, but not healthy controls, Hs-CRP related to body mass index (BMI) z-score (r = 0.47, p < 0.001), weight z-score (r = 0.41, p < 0.001), and female sex (p = 0.008).

Conclusions: Hs-CRP is not associated with early vascular dysfunction in children with T1DM. However, in children and adolescents with T1DM, Hs-CRP was associated with female sex and children with higher BMI, suggesting that these groups may be at greater cardiovascular risk. Maintenance of a healthy BMI may be important in the prevention of vascular disease of T1DM.