BIOCHEMICAL ASSESSMENT OF SELECTED TRACE ELEMENTS, ANGIOGENIC AND ATHEROGENIC INDECES IN POSTMENOPAUSAL DIABETIC WOMEN

Abstract

The pathogenesis of vascular endothelial damage in diabetes potentiates angiogenesis, atherogenesis, cardiovascular morbidity and mortality (Stehowen et a\ 1992). Hypocstrogenemia is apparently a major contributing factor to cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women. Hence, menopause is a normal biologic event marked by the cessation of menstrual periods whereby depletion of functional ovarian follicles that are responsible for estradiol production occurs. At the post­ menopause variable changes occur involving endocrinologic, metabolic, pathologic sociocultural and psychological aspects. The role of hormone replacement therapy in the management of sympotmils has emerged with positive outcome which could outweigh its side effects. The objective of the present thesis was to evaluate the magnitude of diabetic complications involving angiogenesis, atherogenesis and trace element disbalance posed by the influence of age related estrogen defecit in postmenopausal diabetic women versus use of honnonal replacement therapy (HRT) respective to allied controls. Selected biochemical indices in the present study monitored the following aspects. 1- Glycemic status via random blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin. (HbAl-c) 2- Angiogenes IS presented by vascular endothelial growth factor

(VEGF).

3- Trace elements involving serum levels of zinc (Zn) and chromiun

(Cr).

4- Lipid profile influencing atherogenesis and including the following : total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein low density lypoprotein (HDL), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), apo