Good cholesterol and vascular abnormalities in diabetes and heart disease

Abstract

Diabetes is a common cause of renal failure, blindness and accelerated cardiovascular disease (CVD). Hyperglycemia, hypertension and dyslipoproteinaemia, including High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) dysfunction, may promote complications and represent therapeutic targets. In diabetes, qualitative and quantitative changes in lipoproteins, such as low HDL and non-enzymatic glycation and oxidation may promote CVD. In addition to its role in reverse cholesterol transport, HDL has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-thrombotic and vasodilatory effects, which may be vasoprotective. The underlying hypothesis is that impaired HDL function in diabetes promotes CVD. Lipoprotein function will be evaluated..