Endothelin secretion in type-2 diabetics during infusion with glycerol trinitrate

Abstrakt

The response of plasma endothelin 1.2 levels to vasodilating infusion with nitroglycerin was investigated in Type-2 diabetics without any signs of vascular complications, and in a control group of non-diabetics. Basal endothelin levels were found to be significantly higher (27.6 +- 12.1 vs. 21.4 +- 8.4 fmol/ml, p < 0.01) in diabetics.

While endothelin levels in diabetics showed a slow decrease during two-hour infusion, there was no change in endothelin levels in non-diabetics. No difference was demonstrated between both groups at the end of infusion.

The possible explanations and implications are discussed.