Background:

Atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes is multifactorial. Among other factors, dyslipidemia and increased levels of oxidized LDL are important pathogenic mechanisms of endothelial dysfunction in patients with diabetes. Non-invasive method of assessment of endothelial function by brachial artery flow mediated vasodilatation (FMD), provided an extremely useful tool for clinical application. 

Materials and methods:

90 patients attending the medicine and endocrinology departments were included in the study. Informed consent was obtained from all the study subjects. Clinical examination Blood pressure (BP) and body-mass index (BMI), Biochemical assessment included fasting blood sugar (FBS) and post-prandial blood sugar levels, and comprehensive lipid profile. The brachial artery diameter was measured on B-mode ultrasound images. Flow mediated dilatation was calculated. Severe endothelial dysfunction was defined as FMD < 4.5%, as has been described. Data were collected and managed on an Excel work sheet. 

Results: 

The average FMD among controls was 14.76±2.17% and among diabetics was 7.17±5.1%. Within the dyslipidemia sub group, FMD was markedly reduced with an average dilatation of 5.74±5.02. Severe endothelial dysfunction was prevalent in 26% of the diabetics. Endothelial dysfunction could not be demonstrated in controls. Among patients with diabetic dyslipidemia, the prevalence of ED was 41%. 

Conclusion:

The present study findings may have implications about the origins of vascular disease in type2 diabetes as well as patients with dyslipidemia. The ultrasound assessment of arterial FMD responses might provide a valuable tool for risk stratification of patients with type2 diabetes, especially for those with dyslipidemia.

Key words:

Endothelial dysfunction, dyslipidemia, diabetes, arterial flow mediated dilatation

Usha Kiran.P has completed her MD in medical Biochemistry at the age of 27 years from Dr.NTR University, India. She is the head of department of Medical Biochemistry, Theerthanker Mahaveer Medical College, TMU, India. She has over 18 publications that have been cited over 49 times, and her publication h-index is 3. She has been serving as an editorial board member of 1 reputed journal