STUDY OF ENDOGENOUS SEX HORMONES AND INFLAMMATION IN ELDERLY WOMEN WITH DIABETES MELLITUS

Background .C-Reactive Protein (CRP), an acute phase reactant has long been considered as a classic marker of inflammation. Ageing is characterized by a chronic, low-grade inflammatory status, the so-called “inflame-ageing”. Diabetes is known to be also associated with low-grade inflammation .The normal process of reproductive ageing is characterized by marked hormonal changes, during menopause, estradiol (E2) level decreases dramatically, whereas testosterone level presents a small decline or remain unchanged. A large body of clinical data suggests the important roles of endogenous sex hormones in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. In many studies in women, plasma estradiol and testosterone have been positively associated with glucose intolerance and insulin resistance, independently of adiposity. Objective .The aim of this study was to assess serum levels of endogenous sex hormones (estrogen and testosterone) as well as high sensitive C -Reactive protein ( hs-CRP) in elderly women with and without type 2 diabetes.
Research Design. This study was done in the period between august 2009 to august 2011, The study population included a total number of 60 post menopausal elderly females, 20 healthy non diabetic elderly females as control group and 40 diabetic females. The diabetic females were further divided into two groups according to presence or absence of complications cardiovascular diseaes complicated group and non complicated group. They were also divided into two groups according to glycosylated hemoglobin level (HbA1c) to controlled group and non controlled group.
Methods. Total testosterone, total estradiol, hs-CRP and HbA1c were measured in diabetic and non diabetic elderly women.
Results. As regard hs-CRP there was a high significant difference between patients(2,2±,56 mg/L) and control group(1.60  0.39 mg/L) and also there was a significant difference between complicated(2.160.51 mg/L) and non complicated group(2.080.76 mg/L) and no significant difference among diabetics whether controlled or non controlled . As regard the serum estradiol, there was a high significant difference between patients (22.513.9 pg/ml) and control group (12.92.71 pg/ml). While there was no significant difference as regard presence or absence of complication and diabetes control. As regard the serum testosterone, there was no significant difference between patients and control group, presence or absence of complication and control of diabetes.
Conclusion. In type 2 diabetic postmenopausal elderly women there was significant association between inflammation and serum estradiol while there was no association between inflammation and serum testosterone. As regarding presence or absence of cardiovascular complication and diabetes control neither of two hormones were associated with inflammation.