BACKGROUND: AND AIM: System of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and its binding proteins (IGFBP) may be involved in the pathogenesis of vascular damage in Type 2 diabetes. Aim of the study was to analyse the relationship between this system and microvascular reactivity in Type 2 diabetes as measured by laser-Doppler flowmetry.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirteen Type 2 diabetic patients (8 women and 5 men) with microangiopathy and fifteen healthy subjects (8 women and 7 men) were examined clinically, underwent laser-Doppler flowmetry and intima-media thickness measurements. Fasting serum levels of IGF-I, IGFBP and lipids were examined. Percentage perfusion increase in the test with postocclusive reactive hyperaemia (PORH) as well as in that with thermal hyperaemia (TH) were significantly decreased in Type 2 diabetic patients (p < 0.05). Maximal perfusion after heating (THmax) was lower in Type 2 diabetic patients. Reaction of microcirculation after heating (THmax/t) was slower in Type 2 diabetic patients (p < 0.001). The changes in microvascular reactivity didn't significantly correlate with any of measured parameters of IGF-I/IGFBP system.

CONCLUSIONS: Microvascular reactivity is impaired in Type 2 diabetic patients. The function of microcirculation is not significantly related to the particular parameters of the IGF-I/IGFBP system.

Keywords: Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 /blood/; Diabetic Angiopathies /physiopathology/; Female; Humans; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins /blood/; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I /analysis/; Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; Male; Microcirculation /physiology/; Middle Aged