Problems of applying inflammatory markers to diagnostics of anemia of chronic disease in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the severity of changes in the values of markers-candidates for the differential diagnosis of anemia of chronic diseases in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The total number of leukocytes, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, content of C-reactive protein, TNFa, ferritin and hepcidin were evaluated. 50 people with type 1 diabetes mellitus and 81 people with type 2 diabetes mellitus were examined. The diagnosis of anemia was established on the basis of data on the level of hemoglobin, the content of erythrocytes in the blood, ferritin and serum iron. Next, the type of anemic syndrome was determined. The patients were divided into groups: 14 patients with diabetes mellitus and anemia of chronic diseases, 15 people with diabetes mellitus and iron deficiency anemia, 38 patients with diabetes with latent iron deficiency and 64 patients with diabetes mellitus without anemia. The comparison group consisted of 17 healthy volunteers. It was shown that in the general sample of patients with diabetes mellitus anemia of chronic diseases was distinguished only by the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, which was higher than in iron deficiency anemia, latent iron deficiency and in patients without anemia. The severity of inflammation in diabetic patients was analyzed depending on its type. The concentration of hepcidin in the blood of diabetic patients, regardless of type, exceeded its content in the blood of healthy individuals. Elevated serum concentrations of TNFα were characteristic of inflammation in type 1 diabetes mellitus. Diabetes mellitus type 2 was characterized by an increase in: erythrocyte sedimentation rate - relatively healthy individuals; concentrations of C-reactive protein - in comparison with healthy volunteers and patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus; ferritin levels compared with patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Taking into account the type of diabetes and the type of iron metabolism disorder, it was found that in type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus, only the erythrocyte sedimentation rate in patients with anemia of chronic diseases was significantly higher than in patients with iron deficiency anemia and without anemia. The article discusses the reasons for the difficulties in using inflammatory markers (ferritin and hepcidin) as parameters for verifying anemia of chronic diseases in patients with diabetes mellitus. It is pointed out that it is necessary to take into account the differences in the mechanisms of inflammation development in type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus when trying to use cytokines and C-reactive protein as additional diagnostic markers in practice. The rationale is given for the prospects of determining the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, with the recommendation of a certain threshold value, for the detection of anemia of chronic diseases in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus.