Confounding variables, including diabetes mellitus and peripheral vascular disease, which are associated with systemic inflammation and elevated inflammatory markers even in the absence of infection, were prevalent among patients requiring amputation (33/64 [52%] and 15/64 [23%] respectively).31, , -34 Our study found that 43 of the 48 patients (90%) with either diabetes mellitus or end-stage renal failure had elevated CRP at diagnosis, compared with 46/73 (63%) without. The gene discussed is CRP; the disease is infection.