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Circulating adhesion molecules and carotid artery structural changes in patients with noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 17, pages 463–470 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

Hypertension and non insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) are well-known risk factors for atherosclerotic disease. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) may exert a relevant role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis; their prognostic relevance has been recently demonstrated. The aim of the study was to investigate possible inter-relation between circulating adhesion molecule levels, carotid artery structure and endothelial function in 15 patients with NIDDM, as well as in 15 patients with both NIDDM and essential hypertension (NIDDM+EH) compared with 15 normal subjects (NS) and 15 euglycaemic patients with EH, matched for age, sex and body weight. All subjects were submitted to a biopsy of the gluteal subcutaneous fat. Small arteries were dissected and mounted on a micromyograph, and the media-to-lumen (M/L) ratio was then calculated. Carotid artery structure was investigated by Doppler ultrasound. Endothelial function was evaluated by investigation of the flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) of the brachial artery. ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 plasma levels were measured by ELISA. ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 plasma levels were significantly greater and FMD smaller in EH, NIDDM and NIDDM+EH than in NS, but no difference was observed among the three pathological groups. Carotid artery structural changes were more pronounced in NIDDM+EH. No significant difference was observed among NIDDM, EH and NS. The M/L ratio of subcutaneous small resistance arteries was significantly greater in NIDDM+EH than in NIDDM or EH. NS had a smaller M/L ratio than the other groups. Significant correlations were observed between ICAM-1 plasma levels and indices of carotid artery structure in diabetic patients. However, the relations were close only in NIDDM+EH. In conclusion, our data suggest that NIDDM+EH may present more pronounced vascular structural alterations than NIDDM, and that adhesion molecules plasma levels are closely inter-related with carotid artery structural alterations, at least in NIDDM+EH, but not with M/L ratio of small resistance arteries.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Chair of Internal Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy

    D Rizzoni, M L Muiesan, E Porteri, M Castellano, M Salvetti, C Monteduro, C De Ciuceis, G Boari, I Sleiman & E Agabiti-Rosei

  2. Diabetologic Unit, Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy

    U Valentini & A Cimino

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  1. D Rizzoni
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  2. M L Muiesan
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Correspondence to D Rizzoni.

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Rizzoni, D., Muiesan, M., Porteri, E. et al. Circulating adhesion molecules and carotid artery structural changes in patients with noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. J Hum Hypertens 17, 463–470 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jhh.1001570

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