Effects of aging and type 2 diabetes on resting and post occlusive hyperemia of the forearm; the impact of rosiglitazone

Jerrold Petrofsky¹ , Scott Lee² and Maria Cuneo¹

¹Physical Therapy Department, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, USA

²School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, USA

author email corresponding author email

BMC Endocrine Disorders 2005, 5:4doi:10.1186/1472-6823-5-4


Published:	24 March 2005

Abstract

Background

Both Diabetes and ageing are associated with reduced vascular endothelial function. The exact relationship between the 2 and any improvements from the insulin sensitizer rosiglitazone have not been explored.

Methods

Thirty controls and sixteen subjects with type 2 diabetes participated in a series of experiments to examine the interrelationships between age, diabetes and endothelial cell function. In subjects with diabetes, the insulin sensitizer rosiglitazone (RSG), a drug also known to improve vascular function, was administered for 3 months to see how it altered these relationships. Resting forearm flows (RF) and blood flows after 4 min of vascular occlusion (PF) were measured as an index of endothelial cell function.

Results

RF, measured by venous occlusion plethysmography, was negatively correlated to both age and diabetes. Administration of RSG for 3 months was associated with an increase in the blood flow response to venous occlusion so that it was not significantly different than that of age matched controls. Total PF in control subjects, compared to subjects with diabetes, averaged 56.58 +/- 12.57 and 13.6 +/- 8.01 cc/100 cc tissue per min respectively, and were significantly different (p < 0.01). After 3 months on RSG, differences between PF in the two groups were no longer evident.

Conclusion

These studies suggest a different mechanism causing a reduction in vascular reactivity with aging and diabetes.