The effect of improved control on blood filtration properties and non-enzymatic glycosylation of erythrocyte proteins in type 2 diabetes.
Abnormal blood flow in the microcirculation has been reported in diabetes and may be important in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications. The mechanism of this is not understood but non-enzymatic glycosylation of erythrocyte membrane or haemoglobin causing reduced erythrocyte deformability and a secondary change in filtration properties of blood have been suggested as possible factors. The relationship of non-enzymatic glycosylation of erythrocyte membrane and glycosylated haemoglobin to filtration time of blood was investigated during stabilization of diabetes with sulphonylurea therapy. Over an 8-month period, glycosylated haemoglobin, non-enzymatic glycosylation of erythrocyte membrane, and filtration time fell by 41%, 71%, and 53% of the initial value, respectively, but the rate of decline was slower for filtration time which did not change significantly until the last month. Due to the different time-course of improvement, no relationship was found between filtration time and glycosylated haemoglobin or non-enzymatic glycosylation of erythrocyte membrane whereas glycosylated haemoglobin and non-enzymatic glycosylation of erythrocyte membrane correlated significantly (r = 0.49, p less than 0.001). These results suggest that the abnormal filtration property of blood in diabetes is not a direct consequence of non-enzymatic glycosylation, and suggest that the erythrocytes made in the hyperglycaemic milieu are abnormally rigid. The filtration properties of blood are only improved when new generations of erythrocytes enter the circulation.
Yue
D K
DK
Department of Medicine, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Capogreco
C
C
McLennan
S V
SV
Turtle
J R
JR
D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003927:Diet, Diabetic; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000032:analysis*; D005374:Filtration; D005905:Glyburide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006031:Glycosylation; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged
D005905:Glyburide; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin