title: Plasma levels of endothelin and early carotid atherosclerosis in diabetic patients.
abstract: An increased thickness of the carotid artery wall is thought to be a sign of early atherosclerosis. Since plasma endothelin concentrations were released from vascular endothelial cells, we have investigated the possible relationship between endothelin 1 (ET-1) and arterial wall thickness. Ninety-eight patients with Type 2 diabetes without evidence of macroangiopathy, hypertension, proteinuria or proliferative retinopathy, and 50 non-diabetic subjects were studied. After an overnight fast, blood was taken for ET-1, glucose, HbA1c, lipids, insulin and C-peptide. Arterial wall thickness was measured as the mean of the maximum intimal-medial thickness (IMT) in 16 carotid segments by B-mode ultrasound. ET-1 levels were significantly elevated in diabetic patients with IMT>1100 microm, 8.3 pmol/l (5.2-12.9) compared with control subjects, 7.6 pmol/l (5.0-11.0), p<0.01 and with diabetic subjects with IMT<500 microm, 7.43 pmol/l (4.8-11.1), p<0.01. The diabetic (IMT>1100 microm) study group had also significantly higher levels of insulin, 102.8 +/- 46.4 pmol/l vs control subjects, 77.5 +/- 32.4 pmol/l, p<0.01. In diabetic subjects, no correlation was found between ET-1 and IMT with glucose, HbA1c, lipids, age or duration of diabetes, respectively. We conclude that ET-1 levels are elevated in Type 2 diabetic patients with increased IMT. Thus providing further support for the role of endothelin in atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diabetes, NIMTS Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: I N
authors.initials: IN
authors.lastname: Migdalis
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kalogeropoulou
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Karmaniolas
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Varvarigos
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mortzos
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cordopatis
mesh_terms: D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000473:pathology*; D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002096:C-Peptide / Q000097:blood; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology*; D016232:Endothelins / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D002096:C-Peptide; D016232:Endothelins; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007328:Insulin