OBJECTIVE: Vascular disease in type 1 diabetes is a complex and multifactorial process, which probably begins in childhood in association with the onset of diabetes. To determine the possible factors involved, we measured microvascular responses to endothelium-dependent (acetylcholine) and endothelium-independent (sodium nitroprusside) vasodilators in 56 patients with type 1 diabetes (aged 9-22 years) and 22 control subjects. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Skin perfusion was measured at the dorsum of the foot using laser Doppler flowmetry during low-current iontophoresis of acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside. Maximum vasodilator function was measured during local 44 degrees C skin heating. RESULTS: Vascular responses were significantly reduced in patients with type 1 diabetes compared with responses in control subjects: acetylcholine (P<0.01, analysis of variance [ANOVA]), sodium nitroprusside (P<0.01, ANOVA), and local heating (P<0.02. Mann-Whitney U test). Endothelium-dependent responses were related to duration of diabetes (r = -0.38, P<0.01) and to glycemic control (r = 0.37, P<0.01). Significant correlations were found in the patient group between responses to acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside (r = 0.28, P<0.05) but not to heating, suggesting that a common factor (e.g., nitric oxide activity) may be responsible for the abnormal vascular responses to these chemicals. CONCLUSIONS: Early changes in microvascular function are present in young patients with type 1 diabetes, long before the initial clinical presentation. These abnormalities may be related to complex interactions between structural abnormalities and functional changes in the endothelium, smooth muscle, and nitric oxide activity.
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Abstract|
February 01 2000
Impaired skin microvascular function in children, adolescents, and young adults with type 1 diabetes.
F Khan;
F Khan
University Department of Medicine, Child Health Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, Scotland, UK. [email protected]
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T A Elhadd;
T A Elhadd
University Department of Medicine, Child Health Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, Scotland, UK. [email protected]
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S A Greene;
S A Greene
University Department of Medicine, Child Health Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, Scotland, UK. [email protected]
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J J Belch
J J Belch
University Department of Medicine, Child Health Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, Scotland, UK. [email protected]
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Citation
F Khan, T A Elhadd, S A Greene, J J Belch; Impaired skin microvascular function in children, adolescents, and young adults with type 1 diabetes.. Diabetes Care 1 February 2000; 23 (2): 215–220. https://doi.org/10.2337/diacare.23.2.215
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