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. 2022 Sep 27;14(1):141.
doi: 10.1186/s13098-022-00912-y.

Biochemical and clinical markers of endothelial dysfunction do not outweigh traditional risk factors for the presence of diabetic retinopathy in patients with type 1 diabetes

Alessandra Saldanha de Mattos Matheus  1 , Maria de Fátima Bevilacqua da Matta  2 , Eliete Leão Silva Clemente  2 , Maria de Lourdes Guimarães Rodrigues  3 , Débora Cristina Torres Valença  3 , Karla Rezende Guerra Drummond  2 , Marília Brito Gomes  2
Affiliations

Biochemical and clinical markers of endothelial dysfunction do not outweigh traditional risk factors for the presence of diabetic retinopathy in patients with type 1 diabetes

Alessandra Saldanha de Mattos Matheus et al. Diabetol Metab Syndr. .

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to evaluate whether soluble vascular cytoadhesive molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), intracellular cytoadhesive molecule-1 (sICAM-1), and endothelial function as assessed by EndoPat outweighed traditional risk factors for the presence of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D).

Methods: Patients aged ≥ 12 years completed a clinical-epidemiological questionnaire. Fasting venous blood samples were obtained (lipid profile, glycemic control, and C-reactive protein levels). Vascular reactivity was assessed via peripheral arterial tonometry performed by supplying the reactive hyperemia index (RHI) through the EndoPAT device. sVCAM-1 and sICAM-1 levels were measured using multiplex assays.

Results: Data were obtained from 187 patients (51.3% female), aged 32 ± 13 years with a disease duration of 14 (6-15) years and mean hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) of 9.1% ± 2.1%. After adjustments were made, age, HbA1c, arterial blood pressure, and use of drugs that could interfere with endothelial function were found to be associated with DR. No association was noted with sVCAM-1 and sICAM-1 levels and RHI.

Conclusions: In our sample, sVCAM-1, sICAM and EndoPAT did not outweigh the traditional DR risk factors, such as age, high HbA1c, arterial blood pressure, and use of drugs that could interfere with endothelial function and are significantly associated with DR. Further prospective studies should evaluate if markers of endothelial dysfunction could predict diabetes-related micro and macrovascular complications in T1D.

Keywords: Biochemical markers; Diabetes type 1; Diabetic retinopathy; EndoPAT; Microvascular reactivity.

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Conflict of interest statement

On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
sVCAM-1 and sICAM-1 levels in patients with T1D according to Reactive Hyperemia Index (RHI). RHI ≤ 1.67 = higher cardiovascular risk; 1.67 < RHI < 2.1 = intermediate cardiovascular risk; RHI ≥ 2.1 = low cardiovascular risk
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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