Synergistic Association of Metabolic Syndrome and Overt Nephropathy With Elevated Asymmetric Dimethylarginine in Serum and Impaired Cutaneous Microvasodilation in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes

Yamamoto and Aso examine the cutaneous microvascular responses to heat applied locally to the skin of the dorsum of the foot in type 2 diabetic patients with or without metabolic syndrome or overt nephropathy, measuring cutaneous blood flow by laser Doppler flowmetry as well as serum asymmetric dimethylarginine concentration. Results demonstrate for the first time that cutaneous microvasodilation measured in the foot in response to local heat was significantly lower in diabetic patients with both metabolic syndrome and overt nephropathy than in those with no metabolic syndrome and no overt nephropathy or in those with overt nephropathy, but no metabolic syndrome.