ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Micro and macrovascular disease is the most frequent cause of morbidity and mortality of the patients with diabetes mellitus. The recent investigations have pointed out the relationship between endothelial dysfunction and the progression of these diabetic complications, suggesting the crucial role of nitric oxide, vasodilator molecule of endothelial origin, in these events, including diabetic symmetric polyneuropathy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The present study encompassed 100 individuals with diabetes mellitus type II and diabetic distal symmetric polyneuropathy (DSP). Nitrate+nitrite concentration, 3-nitrotyrosine, S-nitrosothiols, ADMA and SDMA levels and arginase activity were determined compared to the control group consisted of 50 age and sex matched voluntary blood donors. RESULTS: NO(2)+NO(3) concentrations, as well as 3-nitrotyrosine, S-nitrosothiol, ADMA and SDMA levels were significantly higher in patients with DSP compared to the control group. Plasma arginase activity in the patients with diabetic DSP was significantly lower compared to the values in plasma of control subjects. CONCLUSION: The obtained results confirmed that nitrate+nitrite, 3-nitrotyrosine, S-nitrosothiols, ADMA, SDMA and arginase activity determination in plasma of patients with diabetic DSP could be useful in monitoring the disease development and in assesing the therapy effects.
