Endocrine Abstracts

Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate sE-selectin and Endothelin-1 as markers of endothelial function and autonomic tone at early stages of impaired glucose tolerance and in metabolic syndrome (MetS).

Material and methods: A total of 87 subjects - 48 females and 39 males (mean age 45.7±11.6 years, mean BMI 31.4±6.6 kg/m²), divided into three groups according to glucose tolerance: 35 with normal glucose tolerance (NGT), 35 with prediabetes and 17 with newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes (NDT2D), and into two groups according to the presence of MetS: 66 with MetS and 21 without MetS, were enrolled. Glucose tolerance was studied during OGTT. Anthropometric indices, blood pressure, HbA1c and serum lipids were measured. Serum sE-selectin and Endothelin-1 were estimated using ELISA tests. Autonomic function was assessed by ANX-3.0 using frequency-domain analysis at rest and during deep breathing, Valsalva, standing.

Results: The prevalence of cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction was 5.7% in NGT, 8.6% in prediabetes, 23.5% in NDT2D. No significant difference was observed in sE-selectin and Endothelin-1 between the groups according to glucose tolerance and in endothelial markers and autonomic parameters according to MetS. Our results showed significantly diminished parasympathetic activity at rest (P=0.005, P=0.016, respectively) and during deep breathing (P=0.043, P=0.046, respectively) in NDT2D as compared to prediabetes and NGT; and elevated heart rate at rest in NDT2D in comparison to NGT (P=0.024). sE-selectin correlated with fasting plasma glucose (r=0.211, P=0.050) and heart rate at rest (r=0.214, P=0.047). There was negative correlation between both sympathetic and parasympathetic power and age, HbA1c, waist, BMI, total and LDL-cholesterol.

Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that slight increase in plasma glucose and the presence of MetS do not influence sE-selectin and Endothelin-1 concentrations. Autonomic tone is affected at early stages of impaired glucose homeostasis, the main determinants being age, long-term glycemic control, obesity, total and LDL-cholesterol.