Association between diabetes complications and leukocyte counts in Iranian patients

Sedigheh Moradi¹, Scott Reza Jafarian Kerman², Farzaneh Rohani¹, Fereshteh Salari^2
1Endocrine and Metabolism Research Center (Firouzgar), Hemmat Campus, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, ²Scientific Students Research Committee, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Background: The long term complications of diabetes can be fatal. They are also renowned for being an economic burden. Previous studies have demonstrated a relationship between inflammatory markers and complications of diabetes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between leukocyte counts and these complications.
Methods: The study included 184 patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. The study was carried out in Iran during 2007 and 2008. Data collected on the subjects were as follows: age, gender, weight, height, blood pressure, smoking history, lipid profile including low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL), total cholesterol, triglycerides, and leukocyte count, albuminuria, and retinopathy. Furthermore, information on cardiac history for 100 patients was collected. The subjects were split into two groups according to their leukocyte levels: low (≤7000/mm³) and high (>7000/mm³); and then analyzed by Student's t-test or Mann–Whitney U-test as appropriate.
Results: The average leukocyte count in these patients was 7594 ± 1965/mm³. Leukocyte count was significantly different in patients with and without retinopathy and albuminuria (P < 0.0001). According to this analysis, a leukocyte count of 6750/mm³ with a sensitivity of 80.2% and a specificity of 56.4%, and a count of 7550/mm³ with a sensitivity of 63.2% and a specificity of 74.6% indicated at least one diabetes complication.
Conclusion: An elevated leukocyte count even within the normal range was associated with chronic complications in type 2 diabetes.

Keywords: leukocytes, diabetes complications, inflammation