[Genetics of cardio-vascular complications of diabetes]

Variations of glucose level represent the major cause of diabetic micro- and macroangiopathy, but other factors play a significant role on the occurrence of the complications, which is difficult to quantify. We will review the genetic factors which modulate vascular and heart response to diabetes. In an attempt to modelize a complex disease, we will distinguish susceptibility gene for the deleterious effects of hyperglycemia, through advanced glycation end-products (AGE), and genes responsible for associated and interacting, diseases, such as hypertension and atherosclerosis. We examine, in particular, the possible interactions of the products of these genes on target organs.