Diabetic macroangiopathy and growth hormone.

The large vessel disease develops slowly and progressively among most diabetics. According to the concept of a specific diabetic macroangiopathy, the alterations in the large vessels are part of the general diabetic angiopathy and are different from the spotty atherosclerosis. This hypothesis proposes that the changes develop a consequence of the metabolic situation in diabetes. The concept is based on epidemiologic, clinical, and patho-anatomical observations. A model of large-vessel disease in diabetes is briefly described. Diabetic serum causes proliferation of the aortic myomedial cells in culture. Growth hormone causes a similar proliferation. Type 1 procollagen and fibronectin elaboration is enhanced by diabetic serum. The same effect has been found with growth hormone. Insulin treatment in experimental diabetes prevents the proliferation of arterial myomedial cells in the coronary arteries. The presented data are compatible with the concept of a diabetic macroangiopathy distinct from atherosclerosis.