Vascular Remodeling Markers in Patients with Essential Arterial Hypertension Depending on Presence of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Aim . To study some vascular remodeling markers in hypertensive patients depending on the presence of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Material and methods . The study included patients with essential hypertension 1-2 degrees of increase in blood pressure with/without type 2 diabetes (30 and 32 patients respectively). Using photoplethysmography in combination with reactive hyperemia test structural and functional markers of vascular remodeling were determined: in large vessels – stiffness index and phase shift; in microvessels – reflection index and the occlusion index. Using the computer video capillaroscopy of the nail bed the density of the capillary network at rest, after venous occlusion and after the test with reactive hyperemia was determined. ELISA was used for determining the level of humoral markers of endothelium dysfunction and vascular bed remodeling: metalloproteinase 9, metalloproteinase 9 inhibitor, E-selectin, endothelin, transforming growth factor (TGF-β1), endothelial growthfactor A. Results . In compare with hypertensive patients in hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes significantly higher stiffness index values (11.15 [10.05; 12.35] vs 10.15 [8.83; 11.83] m/s; p=0.04) were found as well as significantly lower (p=0.00) capillary network density at rest (26.4 [24.2; 27.6] vs 35.1 [33.0; 45.0] cap/mm2; p=0.00) after the tests with reactive hyperemia (29 [24; 33.3] vs 40.0 [35.0;43.3] cap/mm2; p=0.00) and venous occlusion (32.5 [27.8; 34.5] vs 40.0 [33.0; 45.0] cap/mm2). In hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes significantly higher levels of TFG-β1 (11648 [4117.8; 37933.8] vs 3938.5 [1808.8; 7694] pg/ml; p=0.00) and significantly lower levels of endothelin-1 (0,46 [0,29;1,3] vs 1.73 [0.63; 2.30] ng/ml; p=0.01) was detected in compare with hypertensive patients without type 2 diabetes. Conclusion . In both groups some signs of vascular remodeling were found at the level of both large arteries and microvessels (arterioles and capillaries). However, the group of hypertension + type 2 diabetes mellitus had statistically significantly more pronounced changes in arterial stiffness, capillary network density, as well as humoral markers levels of fibrosis and endothelial dysfunction.