Plasma endothelin in NIDDM patients with and without complications.
OBJECTIVE
To measure plasma endothelin 1 (ET-1) levels in uncomplicated non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and investigate whether ET levels may be related to angiopathy, blood pressure, metabolic control, or duration of illness.


METHODS
Plasma levels of ET-1 were measured in 44 NIDDM patients, of whom 24 had uncomplicated diabetes, 20 had angiopathy, and 10 had hypertension. In 21 patients, the duration of illness was > 10 years, and in 23 the duration of illness was < 10 years. Serum creatinine levels, microalbuminuria, and HbA1c were determined simultaneously. Thirty normotensive healthy (nondiabetic) individuals (20 men and 10 women) served as control subjects.


RESULTS
No significant statistical differences in plasma ET-1 levels were found among all diabetic patients, diabetic patients with and without angiopathy, diabetic patients with different durations of diabetes, and normal subjects. No significant correlation of plasma ET-1 with blood pressure, age, serum creatinine level, duration of diabetes, HbA1c, or diabetic complications was found.


CONCLUSIONS
Plasma ET-1 levels are similar in patients with NIDDM and healthy subjects and do not seem to act as a marker of diabetic complications.
Bertello
P
P
Diabetic Service Healthy Local Unit 38, Turin, Italy.
Veglio
F
F
Pinna
G
G
Gurioli
L
L
Molino
P
P
Alban
S
S
Chiandussi
L
L
D000328:Adult; D000419:Albuminuria; D001794:Blood Pressure; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000652:urine; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000652:urine; D016232:Endothelins / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D013997:Time Factors
D003404:Creatinine; D016232:Endothelins; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin