Cardiovascular risks in prediabetes: preliminary data on "vasculopathy triad".

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Endocrinology
• Metabolic Disorders

Background:

• Subclinical cardiovascular disease is a common complication of diabetes mellitus, preceding overt manifestations.
• It involves the vasculopathy triad: stasis, endothelial dysfunction, and atherothrombosis.
• Prediabetes represents an intermediate stage, potentially exhibiting early signs of these vascular changes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the presence of the vasculopathy triad in individuals with prediabetes.
• To compare biomarkers of stasis, endothelial dysfunction, and atherothrombosis between prediabetes and healthy control groups.
• To assess the utility of the vasculopathy triad for identifying subclinical cardiovascular disease in prediabetes.

Main Methods:

• Eighty-one participants were analyzed, including a control group (n=44) and a prediabetes group (n=37).
• Measurements included plasma D-dimer, homocysteine, and whole blood viscosity.
• Participant classification was based on clinical history and laboratory results.

Main Results:

• Multivariate analysis revealed significantly higher levels of vasculopathy in the prediabetes group compared to controls (P > 0.0001).
• Prediabetes was associated with significantly higher blood viscosity (P < 0.04) and homocysteine levels (P < 0.03).
• Plasma D-dimer levels were elevated in prediabetes but did not reach statistical significance in this analysis.

Conclusions:

• The findings suggest that the vasculopathy triad is present in prediabetes.
• This triad offers a potential framework for assessing subclinical cardiovascular disease in individuals with prediabetes.
• Early identification of vascular changes in prediabetes is crucial for cardiovascular risk management.