Review: Endothelial dysfunction and pre-symptomatic atherosclerosis in type 1 diabetes — pathogenesis and identification

The vascular endothelium offers an attractive model for detecting functional abnormalities prior to structural changes in the vasculature. Demonstration of progression from endothelial dysfunction through to atherosclerosis is required. Measurements of forearm bloodflow, biochemical markers and biophysical assessments of the endothelium have been employed as research tools for investigating pre-symptomatic atherosclerosis. However, studies examining endothelial function in type 1 diabetes have been sparse and conflicting. Differences in methodology and the study populations were potential confounding factors. Augmented vasodilatory prostanoids compensate for reduced nitric oxide bioavailability in determining endothelial function in type 1 diabetes. Hyperglycaemia appears to be the initiating event in type 1 diabetes which promotes a variety of biochemical events which are pathogenic to the endothelium. Improved understanding of the endothelium may facilitate the development of novel diagnostic tools and interventions targeting the accelerated atherosclerosis associated with type 1 diabetes.