W. Bagg et al., The influences of obesity and glycemic control on endothelial activation in patients with type 2 diabetes, J CLIN END, 86(11), 2001, pp. 5491-5497
The aims of this study were to elucidate the factors that contribute to end
othelial activation and fibrinolytic abnormalities in patients with poorly
controlled type 2 diabetes and to determine whether improved glycemic contr
ol reduces endothelial activation. Adhesion molecules [E-selectin, intracel
lular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1],
von Willebrand factor, total nitric oxide (NO), endothelin-1, tissue plasm
inogen activator, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 were measured in 43
type 2 diabetic subjects with hemoglobin A(1c) of 9.0% or more at baseline
(compared with 21 healthy controls) who after 20 wk had been randomized to
either improved (IC) or usual (UC) glycemic control. At baseline, type 2 d
iabetic patients had significant endothelial activation and abnormal fibrin
olysis compared with control subjects. Body mass index in the diabetic pati
ents was the only independent predictor of E-selectin (P = 0.007), ICAM-1 (
P = 0.01), and NO (P = 0.008) concentrations, but not vascular cell adhesio
n molecule-1, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, or tissue plasminogen acti
vator (all P > 0.05). Type 2 diabetic patients with a body mass index of 28
kg/m(2) or less had concentrations of E-selectin, ICAM-1, endothelin-1, an
d NO similar to those in healthy controls. After 20 wk, hemoglobin Ai, was
significantly lower in IC us. UC (IC, 8.02 +/- 0.25%; UC, 10.23 +/- 0.23%;
P < 0.0001), but there were no significant changes in markers of endothelia
l activation or indexes of fibrinolysis.
Obesity appears to be the most important predictor of endothelial activatio
n in patients with type 2 diabetes. Shortterm improvement in glycemic contr
ol does not appear to reduce endothelial activation.