The endothelium is a complex organ with a multitude of properties essential for control of vascular functions. Dysfunction of the vascular endothelium is regarded as an important factor in the pathogenesis of diabetic micro- and macro-angiopathy. Endothelial dysfunction in Type I and II diabetes complicated by micro- or macro-albuminuria is generalized in that it affects many aspects of endothelial function and occurs not only in the kidney. The close linkage between microalbuminuria and endothelial dysfunction in diabetes is an attractive explanation for the fact that microalbuminuria is a risk marker for atherothrombosis. In Type I diabetes, endothelial dysfunction precedes and may cause diabetic microangiopathy, but it is not clear whether endothelial dysfunction is a feature of the diabetic state itself. In Type II diabetes, endothelial function is impaired from the onset of the disease and is strongly related to adverse outcomes. It is not clear whether impaired endothelial function is caused by hyperglycaemia or by other factors. Impaired endothelial function is closely associated with and may contribute to insulin resistance regardless of the presence of diabetes. Endothelial dysfunction in diabetes originates from three main sources. Hyperglycaemia and its immediate biochemical sequelae directly alter endothelial function or influence endothelial cell functioning indirectly by the synthesis of growth factors, cytokines and vasoactive agents in other cells. Finally, the components of the metabolic syndrome can impair endothelial function.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
August 2005
-
Cover Image
Cover Image
- PDF Icon PDF LinkTable of Contents
Review Article|
July 25 2005
Vascular complications in diabetes mellitus: the role of endothelial dysfunction
Casper G. Schalkwijk;
*Department of Internal Medicine, Academic Hospital Maastricht, 6202 AZ Maastricht, The Netherlands
†Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht, University of Maastricht, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
Correspondence: Dr Casper G. Schalkwijk, Department of Internal Medicine, Maastricht University, Debeyelaan 25, 6202 AZ Maastricht, The Netherlands (email [email protected]).
Search for other works by this author on:
Coen D. A. Stehouwer
Coen D. A. Stehouwer
*Department of Internal Medicine, Academic Hospital Maastricht, 6202 AZ Maastricht, The Netherlands
†Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht, University of Maastricht, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
Search for other works by this author on:
Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
January 19 2005
Revision Received:
March 15 2005
Accepted:
May 11 2005
Online ISSN: 1470-8736
Print ISSN: 0143-5221
The Biochemical Society
2005
Clin Sci (Lond) (2005) 109 (2): 143–159.
Article history
Received:
January 19 2005
Revision Received:
March 15 2005
Accepted:
May 11 2005
Citation
Casper G. Schalkwijk, Coen D. A. Stehouwer; Vascular complications in diabetes mellitus: the role of endothelial dysfunction. Clin Sci (Lond) 1 August 2005; 109 (2): 143–159. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/CS20050025
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Sign in to your personal account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Could not validate captcha. Please try again.
Biochemical Society Member Sign in
Sign InSign in via your Institution
Sign in via your InstitutionGet Access To This Article
Open Access for all
We offer compliant routes for all authors from 2025. With library support, there will be no author nor reader charges in 5 journals. Check here |
![]() |