Monocyte CD36 expression associates with atherosclerotic burden in diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: By virtue of its role in oxidized low-density lipoprotein uptake and foam cell transformation, monocyte CD36 (mCD36) is a potential non-invasive tool to detect atherosclerosis (ATH) in patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). METHODS: Flowcytometric expression of mCD36 was evaluated with reference to ankle brachial index (ABI) in 70 patients of type 2 DM [40 with and 30 without coronary artery disease (CAD) respectively] and 30 age and gender matched normoglycemic controls (NGCs). RESULTS: DM patients had significantly higher mCD36 indices than NGCs (p /=7%) than their respective counterparts (p<0.001 for both). Thirty subjects had compromised ABI (