Capillary filtration coefficient in type II (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes

Changes in microvascular permeability may be important in the pathogenesis of diabetic microangiopathy. In order to assess microvascular fluid permeability, the capillary filtration coefficient was determined in the forearm of 24 normotensive type II diabetic patients with minimal evidence of microangiopathy and satisfactory glycemic control, and 24 age- and sex-matched control subjects, using a sensitive strain gauge plethysmographic system. The median capillary filtration coefficient was not significantly different in the type II diabetic patients and control subjects [5.3 (3.2 - 9.1) x 10(-3) mL.min-1.100 g tissue-1.mm Hg-1 versus 5.4 (3.5 - 8.0) x 10(-3) mL.min-1.100 g tissue-1.mm Hg-1, p = 0.98)]. There were no correlations between capillary filtration coefficient and age, blood pressure, body mass index, duration of diabetes, glycemic control, or the presence of microvascular complications. These findings contrast with type I diabetes, where capillary filtration coefficient is elevated at an early stage in the disease, and lend support to the theory that there are differences in early microvascular functional abnormalities between type I and type II diabetes.