Endothelial dysfunction and oxidative stress in type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients without clinical macrovascular complications

AimsTo evaluate the relationship between oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction (ED) in diabetic patients without clinical macrovascular complications.MethodsIn 27 type 1, 56 type 2 diabetic patients and 35 healthy controls the redox state (GSH, GSSG; enzymatic method), endothelin-1 (ET-1; ELISA) and von Willebrand factor (vWF; ELISA) plasma levels, urinary vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF; ELISA) were measured.ResultsDecreased GSH levels (p < 0.05, type 1 and type 2), GSH/GSSG ratio (p < 0.05 type 1, p < 0.001 type 2) and elevated vWF levels (p < 0.001, type 1 and type 2) were observed in diabetic patients in comparison with controls. A negative correlation between GSH and vWF (p < 0.02 and p < 0.001, in type 1 and type 2, respectively) and GSH and BMI (p < 0.02 in type 1 and type 2) was observed. ET-1 was positively correlated to age (p < 0.05) and diabetes duration (p < 0.03) in type 1, while vWF was correlated to systolic blood pressure (p < 0.05) in type 2 diabetic patients. Urinary VEGF was higher in type 2 (p < 0.05) in comparison with type 1 diabetic patients and was correlated to glycemia (p < 0.05) and systolic blood pressure (p < 0.05).ConclusionsThese data might indicate that markers of oxidative stress and ED are altered in diabetic patients without clinical macrovascular complications.