RESUMO
Endothelial Dysfunction usually precedes the occurrence of diabetic angiopathy. Several studies have been done to evaluate the role of markers of endothelial cell injury in diabetic patients, but no study was done in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance. The aim of the present study has been to measure the plasma levels of von Will br and factor [vWF], fibronectin [Fn] and thrombomodulin[TM], as markers of endothelial cell dysfunction, in subjects with IGT compared to normal healthy subjects. The study included 50 males with IGT free from clinically detectable vascular complications and 20 healthy male subjects matched for age and body mass index. All subjects were subjected to the following investigations: A st and ard oral glucose tolerance test, plasma fibronectin using RIDE assay, thrombomodulin using ELISA, von Willebr and factor, microalbuminuric assessment and lipid profile. We found that the plasma levels of both vWF and TM were significantly higher [p < 0.001] in subjects with IGT compared to normal control subjects. Serum Fn concentration was similar in both groups. profile. We concluded that subjects with IGT, like those with frank diabetes, are at higher risk for cardiovascular complications compared to subjects with normal glucose tolerance