In vivo endothelial dysfunction characterizes patients with impaired fasting glucose.

29 subjects, including 17 with impaired fasting glucose (IFG) (age 63 +/- 1 years, BMI 26.5 +/- 0.8 kg/m2, serum LDL cholesterol 3.5 +/- 0.2 mmol/l, fasting plasma glucose 117 +/- 1 mg/dl) and 12 subjects with normal fasting plasma glucose.

Intra-arterial infusions of endothelium-dependent (acetylcholine [ACh]) and -independent (sodium nitroprusside [SNP]) vasoactive agents

Subjects with normal fasting plasma glucose concentrations

In vivo vasodilatory responses (blood-flow response) to intra-arterial infusions of ACh and SNPsurrogate