RESUMO
The purpose of the investigation was to study the plasma levels of homocysteine (HC) inpatients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) and its association with the development of diabetic angiopathies and some clinical and laboratory parameters. Among 92 patients with DM2, hyperhomocysteinemia (22.6±6.1 µmol/l) was detected in 53% (Group 1) whereas the level of HC was normal (11.3±2.7 µmol/l). The signs of macro- and microangiopathy (nephropathy, in particular) were more common In patients with elevated HC levels than in those with normal HC levels (70% versus 21%; p <0.001; 73% versus 26%; p = 0.008). The carbohydrate and lipid metabolic values and the type of sugar-reducing therapy did not affect the level of HC whereas a clear correlation was found between HC and glomerular filtration rate(GFR), albuminuria, age, and systolic blood pressure. Thus, elevated plasma HC levels in patients with DM2 are associated with the high risk of vascular events and with renal functional parameters (GFR, albuminuria).
RESUMO
AIM: Study of the function of the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid system in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three hundred and fifty patients with RA of different forms, stages, and intensity were examined. The blood and synovial fluid (SF) levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) were measured by immunoradiometric assay. RESULTS: Patients with RA were found to have higher T4 levels (in articular rheumatism, there was its negative correlation with the intensity of the process and in the presence of systemic manifestations of RA, there was a positive correlation). Blood T5 levels with higher RA intensity tended to increase in patients untreated with glucocorticosteroids. Blood TST concentrations showed an upward tendency which correlated with the intensity and stage of RA. Changes were also revealed in SF TST, T4, T3 levels. CONCLUSION: The changes in the secretion of TSH, T4, T3 in patients with RA are caused by this pathological process and those in their SF levels affect the course of articular inflammation.
