Background. The role of IGF-I/IGFBP’s system in the pathogenesis of diabetic vascular complications is widely discussed in the literature. We studied the influence of this system on microvasculare in patients with type 1 diabetes with respect to the effect of IGFBP-1. Methods and Results. 17 patients with type 1 diabetes were included in the study. We examined IGF-I, IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-3 serum levels, parameters of compensation of diabetes and basic values of lipid metabolism. The function of microvasculature was examined using the laser-Doppler system Periflux. We didn’t found any relation between the total IGF-I serum levels, parameters of lipid metabolism or level of diabetes compensation and the degree of impairment of the function of microcirculatoin. IGFBP-1 serum levels positively correlated with the peak perfusion in thermal hyperaemia (r=0.39; p<0.03). IGFBP-3 serum levels did not affect the function of microcirculation. Conclusion. We can conclude that the activity of IGF-I/IGFBP’s system belongs to factors contributing to the development of diabetic microangiopathy in type 1 diabetes. IGFBP-1 as the modulator of IGF-I activity plays probably protective role against the progression of microangiopathy. These results correspond with observations of some other authors.

        Key words: Type 1 diabetes, microangiopathy, IGF-I, IGFBP-1, IGFBP-3, laser-doppler fluxmetry.