Changes in Microcirculation and in Other Selected Parameters During Early Stages of Diabetic Microangiopathy

Overview

Background.
Early stages of diabetic microangiopathy are accompanied with dysfunction, manifested by changes of some biochemical parameters. Parallel changes were observed in microcirculation. The aim of this study was to compare microcirculation in the skin of a forearm evaluated by laser Doppler with selected laboratory markers of endothelial dysfunction in Type 1 diabetes mellitus without microangiopathy or with incipient microangiopathy.Methods and Results. Group of 43 Type 1 diabetic patients was examined in this study. 20 of them had no signs of microangiopathy and in 23 patients a simple diabetic retinopathy (background retinopathy) was diagnosed. Control group consisted of 25 healthy persons of comparable age, sex, and body mass index. All persons involved in this study were examined by laser Doppler and by biochemical examination and the results were compared. In comparison with control group, in diabetic patients the arm occlusion significantly lowered the increase of perfusion (29±12 vs. 41±18 perfusion units (PU) p

Key words:
microangiopathy, Type 1 diabetes mellitus, microcirculation, endothelial dysfunction.