Background/aims: This study aimed to investigate the association of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) polymorphisms with impaired endothelium-dependent dilatation (EDD) in a cohort of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes.
Methods: Ninety-seven children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes underwent ultrasound assessment of EDD. The association of various factors with EDD was analyzed with multivariate linear regression analysis. Genotypes were determined for the eNOS T(-786)C and 4ab polymorphisms, and their association with EDD was tested with logistic regression analysis.
Results: Thirty-three percent of children had impaired EDD. EDD was independently associated with A1c (p = 0.0005) and inversely correlated with A1c (p = 0.0037, OR = 2.14) using logistic regression analysis. The presence of any C allele at eNOS (-786) was significantly more frequent in patients with impaired EDD (OR = 2.97, 95% CI = 1.08-8.87, p = 0.03). Logistic regression analysis revealed OR of 3.09 for impaired EDD for patients with any C allele as compared to TT patients when controlling for all other covariates (p = 0.048).
Conclusion: A third of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes had impaired EDD independently associated with A1c. The presence of any C at (-786) of the eNOS gene conveyed a significantly increased independent risk for impaired EDD.
Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel.