Plasma markers of inflammation and prediction of cardiovascular disease and mortality in African Americans with type 1 diabetes

Background To determine whether plasma levels of markers of inflammation are predictive of the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD), hypertension, or mortality in African Americans with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Methods A total of 484 African Americans with type 1 diabetes were included. At baseline and 6-year follow-up, a clinical interview and examination were conducted to document CVD and systemic hypertension. Venous blood for glycated hemoglobin and cholesterol was obtained and albumin excretion rate measured. Mortality was assessed annually between baseline and 6-year follow-up by review of the social security death index. Baseline plasma levels of 28 inflammatory biomarkers were measured using multiplex bead analysis system. Results After adjusting for baseline age and other confounders, African Americans with type 1 diabetes in the highest quartile of plasma interferon-inducible protein 10 (IP-10) were three times more likely to develop CVD than those in the lowest quartile. African Americans with type 1 diabetes in the lowest quartiles of plasma stromal derived factor-1 (SDF-1) had a 75% higher risk of death than patients in the highest quartile, independently of age, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, body mass index, hypertension, and albuminuria. Conclusion In African Americans with type 1 diabetes, high plasma IP-10 is an independent predictor for incident CVD and low SDF-1 an independent predictor for mortality.