Plasma markers of endothelial dysfunction in type 2 diabetics

Abstract Background Type 2 diabetes, or non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, represents an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD), being characterized by a continuous low-grade inflammation and endothelial activation state. Atherosclerotic lesions occur in diabetic patients at an earlier age with severe clinical manifestations and poor outcome. Our objective was to investigate the correlation between lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A 2 (PLA 2 -LDL), myeloperoxidase (MPO), and paraoxonase (PON), enzymes implicated in the evolution of endothelial dysfunction associated with type 2 diabetes. Methods One hundred diabetic patients [50 without documented coronary artery disease (group 1) and 50 with CVD (group 2)] and 46 healthy controls were investigated for PLA 2 -LDL, MPO, and PON activities. Results PLA2-LDL activity was significantly higher in group 2 than in group 1 and among controls. PON activity was lower in group 1 than in controls, reaching the lowest level in group 2. MPO activity was higher in type 2 diabetics than among controls, with similar values in groups 1 and 2. Conclusions The evaluation of PLA2-LDL, MPO, and PON activities may improve early diagnosis of CVD in asymptomatic patients with type 2 diabetes and can help to evaluate accelerated atherosclerosis and microvascular disease.