Clinic significance of plasma levels of calcitonin gene-related peptide and endothelin in the old patients with diabetes

? Objective To study the plasma endothelin (ET) and calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) level in the old patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). Methods The plasma ET and CGRP levels were determined in DM group (n=48) and control group (n=26) by radioimmunoassay. Results The ET levels were higher in old patients with DM than those in the control group (P0.05). The CGRP levels, which were mildly lower in diabetic patients without complication than those in the control group ( P 0.05), were significantly lower in diabetic patients with complication compared with those in control or patients without complication. In addition, the CGRP level decreased with increase of complications. Conclusion The plasma ET and CGRP levels may be related to the development of diabetic complication.