Correlation between insulin resistance and endothelial dysfunction assessed by flow-mediated dilation

lnsulin resistance and endothelial dysfunction are major cardiovascular risk factors. The purpose of this study was to determine whether only patients with insulin resistance also have an alteration of endothelial function assessed by ultrasound flow-mediated (FMD). In a population of 165 patients, 30 subjects had only a family history of diabetes and/or sporadic findings of hypoglycemia, and they were assessed for FMD, the glucose and insulin curve. Of these 30 subjects, 20 patients h ad an alteration of the parameters measured and were related with 20 healthy patients. The study group and the control group showed a markedly significant statistica! difference in the performance of the curve insulin, in the calculation of FMD and HOMA. FMD allows to study populations with no apparent cardiovascular risk an d to monitor the effectiveness of possible endothelial protective therapy