Endocrine Abstracts

Diabetes mellitus (DM) includes a group of carbohydrate metabolism disorders that is characterized by hyperglycemia and leads long-term macro- and microvascular complications. Also siblings of type 2 diabetic patients have increased relative risk of micro and macrovasculer outcome of DM even though their plasma glucose levels in normal range. Genetically determined hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance and associated dyslipidemia have crucial role in the processes of vascular alterations in siblings of DM. In addition to classical cardiovascular risk factors, recently introduced risk factors of endothelial dysfunction such as asymmetric dimethyl arginine (ADMA) and total homocysteine (tHcy) may exert their deleterious effect on the endothelial cells. The aim of this study was to determine the plasma ADMA and tHcy concentrations in siblings of DM.

Study population consists of healthy subjects. All subjects were divided into two groups according to existing DM in their first degree relatives.

Concentrations of plasma ADMA were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). tHcy levels were measured by ELISA.

Plasma ADMA and tHcy levels were comparable between the siblings of DM and the controls (0.406±0.077 vs 0.400±0.080 μmol/l; 20.02±30.09 vs 21.73±25.95 μmol/l) respectively. There is no correlation between ADMA and tHcy levels. In conclusion, results of this study suggested that plasma ADMA and tHcy concentrations were not increased in siblings of type 2 diabetic patients.