Subjects with metabolic syndrome (MS) are especially exposed to co-existing several cardiovascular risk factors. It's aggregated action leads to the endothelial damage. Tissue hipoxaemia increases VEGF synthesis. NO may also play the crucial role in VEGF synthesis The balance between factors increasing and decreasing VEGF synthesis has special importance in development of vascular complications. The aim of the study was to estimate plasma nitric oxide (NO) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels in patients with metabolic syndrome and vascular complications.
Material and methods: The study was conducted in two groups of patients. I Group--54 patients with metabolic syndrome (diagnosed according to the IDF criteria from 2005) and macro- and microvascular complications, aged 46-67 (58 +/- 6.7) years. II Group--20 healthy subjects, aged 40-61 (51 +/- 5.1) years. Plasma levels of NO and VEGF were determined in all participants.
Results: Plasma level of nitric oxide in subjects with metabolic syndrome and vascular complications was 6.48 +/- 1.5 micromol/l and in healthy participants 10.08 +/- 1.09 micromol/l (p < 0.05). Plasma level of vascular endothelial growth factor in subjects with metabolic syndrome and vascular complications was 193.45 +/- 131.0 pg/ml and in healthy participants 71.09 +/- 14.49 pg/ml (p < 0.05).
Conclusions: Endothelial dysfunction seems to be the substantial factor responsible for the vascular complications in subjects with metabolic syndrome, which manifests in increased plasma level of VEGF and decreased plasma level of NO.