Elevation of cerebrospinal fluid protein in patients with diabetes mellitus is associated with duration of diabetes

We investigated the relationships between total cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) protein in diabetic patients and the clinical characteristics of diabetes mellitus. The subjects comprised 16 diabetic patients (median age = 60.5 years, range = 47-71) who were studied retrospectively. Patients with diseases known to be associated with increases in total CSF protein were excluded as far as possible. The median total CSF protein and albumin quotient in the diabetic group were 52.5 mg/dl (range = 41-84) and 6.13 x 10(-3) (range = 4.0 x 10(-3) to 13.1 x 10(-3)), respectively. These results were significantly higher than those in 28 age-matched nondiabetic patients (median = 59.0 years, range = 50-71) (p < 0.01). Duration of diabetes was associated with total CSF protein (r = 0.642, p < 0.01). If the CSF shows increased total protein in a diabetic patient who has not suffered from long-term diabetes (> or =5 years), causes other than diabetes should be considered to explain increases in total CSF protein. We need to confirm the present results by studying a larger population of diabetic patients.