[The significance of circulating endothelial cells in type 2 diabetes]

The authors examined in 134 type 2 diabetics under the age of 60 years (mean age 54.5 years) the number of circulating endothelia. The results were compared with the number of circulating endothelia in 12 type 1 diabetics who were in a compensated state. The number of circulating endothelial increased with the degree of metabolic decompensation, the limital value of glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) was 12%. In patients with a lower HbA1c value the number of circulating endothelia was still at the upper range of normal values. The highest values were recorded in diabetics with ketosis. The elevated number of circulating endothelia does not depend on the duration of diabetes, on the method of treatment or the patient's age. The finding of an elevated number of circulating endothelia correlates also with a higher cholesterol and triacylglycerol level. The authors consider the raised number of circulating endothelia a marker of endothelial damage and thread of the development of macroangiopathy.