Kunio Yufu
Japan
Research Article
Interleukin-6 as an Independent Predictor of Future Cardiovascular Events in Patients with Type-2 Diabetes without Structural Heart Disease
Author(s): Tetsuji Shinohara, Naohiko Takahashi, Norihiro Okada, Reika Ayabe, Hidekazu Kondo, Kunio Yufu, Mikiko Nakagawa, Masahide Hara and Tetsunori SaikawaTetsuji Shinohara, Naohiko Takahashi, Norihiro Okada, Reika Ayabe, Hidekazu Kondo, Kunio Yufu, Mikiko Nakagawa, Masahide Hara and Tetsunori Saikawa
Background: An increased serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) level is associated with a risk of cardiovascular disease. Elevated IL-6 levels are also involved in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and can predict the development of type-2 diabetes. We tested the hypothesis that elevated IL-6 levels can predict the incidence of cardiovascular events in type-2 diabetes. Methods: Eighty-two patients with type-2 diabetes without structural heart disease (48 males; 60 ± 12 years). The initial onset of a major adverse cardiovascular event was investigated. Results: During a mean of 3.4 ± 2.0 years of follow-up, 11 patients developed cardiovascular events (3 cardiovascular deaths, 2 non-fatal myocardial infarctions, 2 coronary revascularizations, and 4 strokes). Univariate analyses revealed that elevated IL-6 level, fasting .. View More»
