Nephropathy, nycthemeral variability and pulse pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND: The loss of the blood pressure nictemeral rhythm and the elevat ed pulse pressure are considered independent cardiovascular risk factors th at can be related with the microvascular damage of patients with type 2 dia betes mellitus. PATIENTS AND METHOD: We carried out an observational, tranverse study, of a population of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The variables are ca lculated by means of 24 hour ambulatory registry of blood pressure. The res ults are compared with the diverse degrees of nephropathy. RESULTS: A total of 61 patients is studied; 31 have a behavior non dipper. The "non dipper" proportion increased with the urinary albumin excretion (p = 0.024), The pulse pressure was higher in patients with macroalbuminuria (p = 0.004), CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrate a more frequent loss of the nictemeral rhythm and higher pulse pressure among the patients with type 2 diabetes m ellitus and nephropathy.