OBJECTIVETo study the influences of hypertension and diabetes on arterial compliances and endothelial microparticle level.

METHODSFifty patients with hypertension and diabetes, 46 with hypertension, and 48 with diabetes were enrolled in this study, with 50 healthy volunteers group serving as the normal control. Large arterial compliance (C1) and small arterial compliance (C2) were measured using CVProfilor DO2020 cardiovascular profiling system, and the levels of CD31+/CD42- endothelial microparticles (EMPs) were determined by flow cytometry in these subjects.

RESULTSCompared with the hypertensive patients, diabetic patients and healthy volunteers, the patients with both hypertension and diabetes showed significantly decreased C1 and C2. C1 and C2 were significantly decreased in the hypertensive patients in comparison with those in the diabetic patients and the healthy volunteers. Compared with the healthy volunteers group, the diabetic patients showed markedly decreased C2 but normal C1. The levels of CD31+/CD42- EMPs were significantly increased in patients with both hypertension and diabetes compared with the other groups, and the diabetic patients had higher EMPs levels than the hypertensive patients. Pearson regression analysis indicated that C1 and C2 were inversely, while the levels of EMPs positively, correlated to the pulse pressure and 2 h plasma glucose; the levels of EMPs were not related with fasting glycemia.

CONCLUSIONHypertension appears to have greater impact on arterial compliance, especially C1, while diabetes is the major factor responsible for increased release of EMPs.