Hope for new treatments as scientists discover novel mechanisms for glucose-induced vessel damage

摘要

Researchers from the Medical college of Georgia (MCG), GA, USA, believe that new evidence for how the elevated glucose levels in diabetics damage blood vessels could direct us to novel treatments that prevent this process from occurring.Scientists at the American Society of Hypertension 24th Annual Scientific Program in San Francisco, CA, USA, reported that an outcome of high levels of blood glucose is the resultant low blood concentrations of nitric oxide, a powerful vasodilator. This increases the risk of blood pressure and causes eventual blood vessel narrowing. "We know diabetes is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease and we think this is one of the reasons," remarks Dr Rita C Tostes, from the MCG School of Medicine.