One hundred eighty-three patients undergoing coronary angiography were divided in: group 1 with diabetes mellitus (DM) and CAD (n = 58); group 2 with DM without CAD (n = 58); group 3 with CAD without DM (n = 31) and group 4 without CAD and DM (n = 36). EF was assessed by reactive hyperemia index (RHI) using a fingertip peripheral arterial tonometry and compared to values obtained in 20 healthy volunteers.
RHI was significantly lower in patients with DM compared to patients without DM (1.69 ¡À 0.38 vs 1.84 ¡À 0.44; p = 0.019). RHI was comparable among groups 1, 2 and 3, each value being significantly lower compared to group 4 (2 ¡À 0.44; p < 0.001 vs group 1; p < 0.005 vs group 2; p < 0.002 vs group 3). At multivariate analysis DM and CAD were significant predictors of endothelial dysfunction (ED) (OR = 2.29; p = 0.012; OR = 2.76; p = 0.001, respectively), whereas diabetic patients (n = 116) CAD and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) were independent significant predictors of ED (OR = 3.05; p = 0.009; OR = 1.96; p = 0.004, respectively). Diabetic patients with ED (n = 67) had higher levels of HbA1c than diabetic patients with normal endothelial function (7.35 ¡À 0.97 vs 6.87 ¡À 0.90; p = 0.008) and RHI inversely correlated to HbA1c (p = 0.02; r = ? 0.210).
Diabetic patients with and without CAD show significantly impaired peripheral vascular function compared to non-diabetic patients without CAD. ED in diabetic patients without CAD is comparable to that of patients with CAD but without DM. HbA1c is a weak independent predictor of ED.