[Risk factors for atherosclerosis in the early stages of diabetes]

The author investigated in a long term study of 8.7 +/- +/- 3.9 years risk factors of atherosclerosis (RFA) in 70 offspring of both parents suffering from non-insulin-dependent diabetes. Their mean age at the onset of the investigation was 35.2 +/- 7.4 years. The author assessed the incidence of obesity, hypertension, hyperglycaemia and hyperinsulinaemia after oGTT, elevated levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, fibrinogen and a reduced ratio of HDL on electrophoresis. As risk factors they considered: Broca's index above 110%, blood pressure above 150/90 mm Hg and other values above the average + 2SD recorded in a control group of 33 healthy non-obese subjects without a diabetic family-history; HDL values lower than the mean--2SD of controls. During the investigation period the incidence of obesity increased significantly (P less than 0.01); of hypertension (P less than 0.01); hyperglycaemia (P less than 0.05); hyperinsulinaemia (P less than 0.001) and the incidence of a low HDL ratio (P less than 0.01). The mean RFA values were lowest in offspring with a normal oGTT, higher in liminal glucose tolerance and highest in impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes. The most important RFA include an elevated fibrinogen level. The results indicate that in subjects with a high genetic risk of the development of non-insulin dependent diabetes already in the earliest stage conditions for the development of atherosclerosis are present.