The markers of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in correlation with glycated haemoglobin are present in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients but not in their relatives

The aim of this study is to test several biomarkers of inflammation, of endothelial dysfunction, glycated haemoglobin, and their reflection in arterial dilatation, in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and in their relatives, in order to demonstrate if relatives present markers as a form of precocious indicators of diabetes mellitus. Individuals between 30 and 55 years of age and without clinical arterial disease were divided in three groups: type 2 diabetes mellitus patients without complications (12 men and 18 women); first degree relatives of type 2 diabetes mellitus (14 men and 20 women); and control individuals (9 men and 16 women). Body composition was measured with a bioelectrical impedance analyzer and endothelial function with an eco-Doppler device. We determined glucose, insulin, C-peptide, glycated haemoglobin, fibrinogen, E-selectin, P-selectin, soluble intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), C-reactive protein (CRP) in plasma. We also studied endothelium independent dilatation and endothelium dependent dilatation. The results: ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 were significantly higher in the diabetic group (237.5 ± 43.4 and 692.5 ± 168.6 ng/l) than in controls (197.4 ± 51.2 and 573.5 ± 121.1 ng/l, p = 0.011 and 0.013, respectively), but were not higher in the family group (224.5 ± 45.2 and 599.8 ± 150.4 ng/l). CRP was higher in the diabetic group (3.35 ± 3.27 mg/l) than in the other groups (1.28 ± 1.29 and 1.61 ± 1.54 mg/l, p = 0.002) and correlated with glycated haemoglobin. The non-endothelium mediated dilatation was lesser in the diabetic group than in the family group (17.3 ± 6.1 vs. 24 ± 8, p = 0.029) and controls. In conclusion patients with uncomplicated type 2 diabetes, but not their relatives, have biochemical markers of sub-clinical inflammation in relationship with glycated haemoglobin and dysfunction of the endothelial cells markers. In these patients endothelium independent dilatation is more affected than endothelium dependent dilatation.