To investigate the relationship among serum vascular endothelial cells(VE) -cadherin, advanced glycation end-products( AGE), and atherosclerotic lesion. 20 healthy subjects and 60 patients with diabetes mellitus,including 30 patients with carotid atherosclerosis (CI), were enrolled.Soluble VE-cadherin and AGE were determined using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent method (ELISA). The relationships among the concentration of soluble VE-cadherin, AGE, and the course of the disease, blood glucose, and blood lipid levels were analyzed with multivariant stepwise regression analysis. The levels of serum VE-cadherin and AGE in the patients with diabetes and CI were higher than those in control group( P＜0. 05 ). There was a significant difference in VE-cadherin between the diabetes group and the CI group( P＜0. 05 ). Serum VE-cadherin levels were positively correlated with serum AGE levels(r = 0. 69, P＜0. 01 ). AGE levels were positively correlated with the diabetes duration ( r = 0. 31, P =0. 02 ). The levels of serum VE-cadherin in diabetic patients are positively correlated with their serum AGE levels. The VE-cadherin seems to play an important role in the development of atherosclerosis caused by AGE.