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Updated: Jun 28, 2026
06:35
Ultrasound Assessment of Endothelial Function: A Technical Guideline of the Flow-mediated Dilation Test
Published on: April 27, 2016
Endothelial dysfunction: causes and consequences in patients with diabetes mellitus
Angelo Avogaro1, Saula Vigili de Kreutzenberg, Gianpaolo Fadini
1Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Padova, Medical School, Padova, Italy. angelo.avogaro@unipd.it
Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice
|October 29, 2008
Summary
Diabetes impairs vascular endothelium function and nitric oxide production, increasing oxidative stress. This endothelial dysfunction, influenced by adipokines, can precede diabetes and contribute to atherosclerosis, even with normal fasting glucose.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular biology
- Endocrinology
- Metabolic syndrome
Background:
- Vascular endothelium is crucial for cardiovascular homeostasis, with nitric oxide as a key vasodilator.
- Diabetes mellitus (DM) exacerbates endothelial dysfunction via increased oxidative stress.
- Adipokines secreted by adipocytes interact significantly with the endothelium in diabetes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the intricate relationship between diabetes, adipokines, and endothelial function.
- To understand the role of postprandial hyperglycemia in endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis development.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent evidence on diabetes, adipokines, and endothelial interactions.
- Analysis of the impact of oxidative stress on endothelial integrity in diabetic conditions.
Main Results:
- Endothelial dysfunction can manifest before overt diabetes diagnosis.
- Prolonged postprandial hyperglycemia contributes to atherosclerosis, irrespective of fasting glucose levels.
Conclusions:
- Diabetes significantly compromises endothelial health through oxidative stress and adipokine dysregulation.
- Early endothelial dysfunction and hyperglycemia are critical factors in atherosclerosis pathogenesis.
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