Association between the Levels of IL-6, sE-Selectin and Distal Sensory Nerve Conduction Studies in Patients with Prediabetes.

AIM: To determine the association between interleukin-6 (IL-6) and soluble E-selectin (sE-selectin) levels with the electrodiagnostic abnormalities in patients with impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT).

METHODS

Serum HbA1c, C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), fibrinogen, IL-6 and sE-selectin levels were analyzed in 25 IFG patients, 22 IGT patients and 41 controls. Nerve conduction studies (NCS) of sural, dorsal sural (DS), medial dorsal cutaneous and medial plantar sensory nerves were conducted.

RESULTS

HbA1c and IL-6 levels were significantly higher in IFG and IGT patients than the controls. IGT patients had higher sE-selectin levels compared to controls and IFG patients. IL-6 levels were significantly correlated with levels of CRP, fibrinogen, ESR and sE-selectin in patients with prediabetes. Both IFG and IGT patients had substantial impairments in very distal sensory NCS. IL-6 levels were positively correlated with HbA1c and negatively correlated with DS NCS in prediabetic patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Inflammation and endothelial dysfunction might be important in patients with IFG or IGT. Furthermore, our findings strengthen the idea that inflammation (increased levels of IL-6) might be associated with early electrophysiological impairments in patients with prediabetes. NCS of the most distal sensory nerves significantly enhanced the diagnosis of subclinical neuropathy in patients with prediabetes. Subclinical peripheral sensory neuropathy should be investigated in prediabetes to lower the number of future outcomes they are associated with.