Abstract
We investigated the influence that hyperglycemia and elevation of blood pressure exerted on the serum concentration of Type IV collagen-7S (7S collagen) in 33 non-insulin dependent diabetic patients without clinical proteinuria and hypertension over a period of 2 years. We measured blood pressure and HbA1c every month. The averages of mean blood pressure (MBP) and HbA1c for 6 months before study were used as the initial MBP and HbA1c. MBP and HbA1c levels obtained by follow-up were taken as the averages of MBP and HbA1c, respectively, over the course of 2 years. Serum concentrations of 7S collagen were significantly increased in patients with elevated MBP and HbA1c (p<0.01). But there were no significant changes in patients with elevated MBP or HbA1c. These results suggest that the elevation of both blood glucose level and blood pressure after a period of 2 years affects serum 7S collagen concentration which may reflect the impaired metabolism of type IV collagen in the basement membrance in non-insulin dependent diabetic patients without clinical proteinuria. Control of blood glucose and blood pressure may be required for the management of vascular complications in non-insulin dependent diabetic patients.
