Estudio de los factores implicados en la aparición de enfermedad vascular periférica en Extremadura: asociación con el gen VEGF

Résumé

Factors implicated in the development of peripheral vascular disease in Extremadura: association with the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene. Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) is one of the main complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). It is characterized mainly by the consequences of its development: chronic ischemia, gangrene, ulcers in both legs and feet as well as minor amputations in the lower limb. In the recent years there have been a number of studies focusing in risk factors and diagnosis tools (including early diagnosis of PVD). The aims of our study are to determine the prevalence in our study population of PVD in adults over 60 years previously diagnosed of T2DM and, to establish its relationship with body composition and the VEGF polymorphism 2578C/A as well as the utility of thermometry in the diagnosis of PVD. We conclude that the prevalence of PVD in our study population was of 14.4% and there is a significant relationship between the presence of PVD and T2DM. We have failed to find and association between and ABI<0.9 and the skin temperature, there is no scientific evidence to use thermometry as an accurate alternative to ABI in the PVD diagnosis. We have not found significant relationship between BMI and PVD, as showed previously in other cross-sectional studies however. Further research is necessary to correctly address the role of obesity in the risk of PVD development. The association of the VEGF polymorphism 2578C/A with several diseases has been widely described. We have not found any association with PVD in the present study.