The dependence of the endothelial function on comorbid states in patients with asthma

Introduction: the purpose of the research consisted in the study of the functional state of the endothelium in patients having persistent asthma (A) with an uncontrolled course in combination with diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2T) and obesity (O) The aim: on the basis of a complex study of nitric oxide metabolites (nitrosothiols, S-NO), von Willebrand factor (VWF) and endothelin-1 (EТ-1).

Materials and methods: The study involved 90 A patients with comorbid states, who were divided into 3 groups. Group 1 included patients with A, group 2 consisted of A with DM2T (A+DM2T), group 3 was composed of A and obesity (A+O); the control group had 21 persons.

Results: Lower S-NO levels in patients from groups 2 and 3 and an increase of ET-1 in these groups versus the control one demonstrate an imbalance of the indices, which produce an effect on the vascular tone. Statistically, the activity of VWF as the marker of an endothelial damage was significantly higher: it was 169.0 (147.0;178.50) in cases from group 2 and 156.0 (142.75;165.0) in those from the group of A+O. Thus, indices of a disrupted endothelial function were more expressed in patients from group 2. Positive relations of ET-1 with VWF and negative ones with S-NO.

Conclusions: The conducted study has proved that the endothelial function in patients with A+DM2T and A+O is characterized by a disturbed relationship between relaxing and constricting endothelial factors. The obtained data make it possible to receive an opportunity to correct the above impairments in future.