Nephropathy, nycthemeral variability and pulse pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

The loss of the blood pressure nictemeral rhythm and the elevated pulse pressure are considered independent cardiovascular risk factors that can be related with the microvascular damage of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. We carried out an observational, tranverse study, of a population of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The variables are calculated by means of 24 hour ambulatory registry of blood pressure. The results are compared with the diverse degrees ofnephropathy. A total of 61 patients is studied; 31 have a behavior "non dipper". The "non dipper" proportion increased with the urinary albumin excretion (p = 0.024). The pulse pressure was higher inpatients with macroalbuminuria (p = 0.004). Theresults demonstrate a more frequent loss of the nictemeral rhythm and higher pulse pressure among the patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and nephropathy.