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Circulating endothelin-1 levels in type 2 diabetic patients with ischaemic heart disease

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Abstract

To investigate whether circulating endothelin-1 (Et-1) may be related to the increased incidence and severity of ischaemic heart disease in type 2 diabetes mellitus, we compared the concentrations in type 2 diabetic patients and in non-diabetic patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) angiographically documented. Plasma levels of Et-1 were determined in 34 type 2 diabetic patients with CAD (16 with stable angina, 6 with unstable angina, 12 with previous myocardial infarction) and in 19 non-diabetic patients with CAD (4 with stable angina, 5 with unstable angina, 10 with previous myocardial infarction). Fifteen diabetic patients without CAD and 9 healthy volunteers served as control subjects. In the type 2 diabetic patients, the mean Et-1 levels were 3.19±1.61 pmol/l in those with stable angina, 3.58±1.92 pmol/l in those with unstable angina, 4.24±2.53 pmol/l in those with myocardial infarction. These values were not significantly different one another, nor from the values obtained from type 2 diabetic controls (3.64±2.13 pmol/l). In the non-diabetic patients, the mean Et-1 levels were 3.92±0.73 pmol/l in those with stable angina, 4.35±1.67 pmol/l in those with unstable angina, 4.33±1.66 pmol/l in those with myocardial infarction. These values were not significantly different one another, but significantly higher than those obtained from healthy controls (2.07±0.67 pmol/l;P<0.001). No significant differences were found in Et-1 levels between diabetic and non-diabetic patients with stable, unstable angina and previous myocardial infarction. In contrast, a statistically significant difference was found in Et-1 levels between diabetic and non-diabetic control subjects (P<0.05). In conclusion, similar raised concentrations of Et-1 in diabetic and non-diabetic patients with stable, unstable angina and previous myocardial infarction do not support the hypothesis that higher levels of Et-1 in diabetic patients are responsible for the increased incidence of CAD in diabetes mellitus. However, the raised Et-1 levels found in diabetic patients in the absence of CAD strongly suggest that a generalised endothelial dysfunction, documented in our study by increased levels of Et-1, most probably precedes subsequent cardiovascular diseases.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Medical Clinic, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy

    M. Donatelli, I. Colletti, V. Russo, M. L. Bucalo, T. M. L. Valenti, V. Compagno, M. G. Cataldo & M. L. Morici

  2. Institute of Medical Clinic and Cardiovascular Diseases, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy

    E. Hoffmann & G. Andolina

  3. Via F. Lo Jacono, 98, I-90144, Palermo, Italy

    M. Donatelli

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  1. M. Donatelli
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  2. E. Hoffmann
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  3. I. Colletti
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  4. G. Andolina
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  5. V. Russo
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  6. M. L. Bucalo
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  7. T. M. L. Valenti
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  8. V. Compagno
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  9. M. G. Cataldo
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  10. M. L. Morici
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Donatelli, M., Hoffmann, E., Colletti, I. et al. Circulating endothelin-1 levels in type 2 diabetic patients with ischaemic heart disease. Acta Diabetol 33, 246–248 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02048552

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02048552

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