[Our preliminary observations of plasma endothelin behavior in type II diabetes mellitus].
BACKGROUND
Several studies have lately been made to explain the pathophysiologic role of endothelin, a vasoconstrictive peptide, in some clinical syndromes. Within a larger plan of the probable role of this molecule in development of diabetic vasculopathy, we have preliminarily investigated the plasma endothelin-1 level in type II diabetic patients.


METHODS
24 type II diabetic patients and 10 healthy control subjects comparable for sex and age were examined. Plasmatic ET-1 was determined by radioimmunoassay (Amersham, UK).


RESULTS
The mean +/- SD was respectively 11.4 +/- 2.9 pg/ml in diabetic patients and 8.2 +/- 3.9 pg/ml in the control group. Statistical analysis showed a significant difference between two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest an involvement of endothelin in the vascular complications of diabetes. Nevertheless, to better explain the question, we think further and larger studies are required.
Bruno
C M
CM
Istituto di Medicina Interna e Medicina d'Urgenza, Università degli Studi, Catania.
Neri
S
S
D'Amico
R
R
Raciti
C
C
Urso
G
G
D000328:Adult; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood*; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D019332:Endothelin-1
Nostre osservazioni preliminari sul comportamento dell'endotelina plasmatica in corso di diabete mellito tipo II.