Endocrine Abstracts

Hypertension is a common feature of patients with type 2 diabetes, and contributes to the markedly increased risk of cardiovascular disease associated with the diabetic state. Both hypertension and type 2 diabetes are features of the Insulin Resistance Syndrome. Susceptibility genes for the development of the Insulin Resistance Syndrome could contribute to the close association between hypertension and type 2 diabetes. Support for this concept comes from the identification of mutations in the PPARgamma and LMNA genes that generate monogenic forms of the Insulin Resistance Syndrome. The challenge now is to define whether common gene variants increase susceptibility to hypertension and type 2 diabetes, as part of the Insulin Resistance Syndrome, in the general population.