The association of erythrocyte sedimentation rate, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and diabetic kidney disease in patients with type 2 diabetes

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the association between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and diabetic kidney disease (DKD) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 1210 patients with T2DM, among whom 265 had DKD. The severity of DKD was assessed by estimated-glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urinary albumin creatinine ratio (ACR). The relationship between ESR, hsCRP and DKD was analyzed by multivariate logistic analysis. The relationship between ESR and eGFR, ESR or ACR was analyzed by multivariate linear regression. RESULTS: ESR (23.0 [12.0 ~ 41.5] mm/h versus 12.0 [7.0 ~ 22.0] mm/h, P < 0.001) and hsCRP (3.60 [2.20 ~ 7.65] versus 2.90 [1.80 ~ 5.60] mg/L mg/L, P < 0.01) values were significantly higher in patients with DKD than those without. Patients with higher ESR or hsCRP had lower eGFR and higher ACR. After adjusted for gender, age, hemoglobin, plasma proteins, HbA(1c), lipid profiles, and the usage of renin-angiotensin system inhibitors, ESR but not hsCRP was independently associated with the rate and severity of DKD in patients with T2DM. CONCLUSION: ESR was independently associated with the rate and severity of DKD in patients with T2DM.