Introduction: Several studies have lately been made to explain the pathophysiologic role of endothelin, a vasoconstrictive peptide, in some clinical syndromes. Within a larger plan of the probable role of this molecule in development of diabetic vasculopathy, we have preliminarily investigated the plasma endothelin-1 level in type II diabetic patients.
Material and methods: 24 type II diabetic patients and 10 healthy control subjects comparable for sex and age were examined. Plasmatic ET-1 was determined by radioimmunoassay (Amersham, UK).
Results: The mean +/- SD was respectively 11.4 +/- 2.9 pg/ml in diabetic patients and 8.2 +/- 3.9 pg/ml in the control group. Statistical analysis showed a significant difference between two groups.
Conclusions: These results suggest an involvement of endothelin in the vascular complications of diabetes. Nevertheless, to better explain the question, we think further and larger studies are required.