Endocrine Abstracts

Rationale: Obesity, prediabetes and diabetes are strongly associated with microcirculation (MC) abnormalities. It is known that pathological changes in microvessels predispose to CHD, CKD and retinopathy. Also it is widely recognized that biochemical and immunological changes accompanied with obesity and overweight lead to MC damage.

Objective

Of the study was to assess changes in MC in patients with overweight and obesity.

Materials and methods: Computer-assisted intravital microscopy (CAIM) was used to assess intra- (six scores), extra- (three scores) and vascular (11 scores) changes of bulbar conjunctiva and vascular indexes were calculated. We included 91 patients with overweight (group 1), 103 patients with obesity (group 2) both with concomitant prediabetes and diabetes and 58 almost healthy person (group 3).

Results: Overweight and obesity are characterized by progressive changes in MC. A significant difference was observed in perivascular edema in patients with overweight (0.5 (0.0;1.0) as well as in patients with obesity (1.5 (0.5;1.0) (P_1–3=0.025, P_2–3=0.012) compared to group 3. There were no any significant intravascular changes between groups. Vascular changes included inequality in vessels size (1.0 (1.0;1.0) in groups 1 and 2 vs 1.0 (0.0;1.0) in group 3) P_1–3=0.012, P_2–3=0.010), meandrous tortuosity of venules (1.0 (0.0;1.0) in groups 1 and 2 vs 0.0 (0.0;1.0) in group 3) P_1–3=0.002, P_2–3=0.001) and meandrous tortuosity of capillaries (0.0 (0.0;1.0) in groups 1 and 2 vs 0.0 (0.0;0.0) in group 3) P_1–3=0.001, P_2–3=0.004). Calculating of partial vascular indexes and total vascular index optimizes results of CAIM. Vascular index was significant higher in patients with overweight (10.0 (8.0;11.0) compared to patients with obesity (10.0 (9.0;11.0) (P_1–3=0.001, P_2–3=0.001).

Conclusion: Overweight and obesity are associated with MC abnormalities and mostly expressed in extra and vascular changes. Use of partial and total vascular indexes optimizes evaluation of MC changes.