Plasma Endothelinlike Immunoreactivity Levels in IDDM Patients with Microalbuminuria
- Andrew Collier, MD,
- John P Leach, MRCP,
- Alistair McLellan, MRCP,
- Alan Jardine, MRCP,
- James J Morton, PHD and
- Michael Small, MD
- Diabetic Unit, Gartnavel General Hospital and the Mrc Blood Pressure Unit Western Infirmary, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Address Correspondence and reprint requests to Andrew Collier, MD, Diabetic Unit, Gartnavel General Hospital, 1053 Great Western Road, Glasgow G12 OYN, UK.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine whether plasma endothelin, a potent vasoconstrictor and growth factor for vascular smooth muscle, is elevated in microalbuminuric insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Plasma endothelinlike immunoreactivity was measured by radioimmunoassay in 15 microalbuminuric diabetic patients, 12 normoalbuminuric diabetic patients, and 12 control subjects.
RESULTS The mean levels of plasma endothelinlike immunoreactivity were raised in the normoalbuminuric patients (8.4 pM [range 4.8–12.7 pM]; P < 0.01) and the microalbuminuric patients (10.2 pM [range 5.6–31.1 pM]; P < 0.001) compared with control subjects (6.1 pM [range 4.5–7.6 pM]). Plasma endothelinlike immunoreactivity was also higher in the microalbuminuric patients compared with the normoalbuminuric patients (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS The increase in plasma endothelinlike immunoreactivity further confirms endothelial dysfunction in diabetes and this increase in plasma endothelin may contribute to the vascular disease prevalent in diabetes.
- Copyright © 1992 by the American Diabetes Association
