Plasma Adiponectin and Pregnancy-Induced Insulin Resistance

e read with interest the article by Aso et al. (1) showing greater plasma concentrations of interleukin-18 (IL-18) in type 2 diabetic patients compared with matched control subjects. While the authors found no significant associations between fasting levels of IL-18 and homeostasis model assessment, a measure of insulin resistance, they found associations between IL-18 and C-reactive protein concentrations. Moreover, carotid intima-media thickness, a validated surrogate measure of atherosclerosis, was greater in diabetic patients with high IL-18 than in those with normal IL-18. As a whole, these data add to the mounting evidence that diabetes may be regarded as a chronic lowgrade inflammatory state.