Abstract

BACKGROUND
The frequency of nontraumatic lower extremities amputation has significantly increased in patients with type 2 diabetes (DM). Digital Infrared Thermographic (DITI) has been used to demonstrate the skin temperature and its change. mellitus Imaging regional Doppler ultrasonography was developed to show excellent images of superficial arteries. In this study, we observed the relationship between DITI and doppler ultrasonography for detection or evaluation of diabetic peripheral angiopathy. METHODS: 71 patients with type 2 DM were divided to groups with and without peripheral arterial obliteration (PAO) by ankle pressure index (API). For all patients, doppler ultrasonography of lower extremities was performed in measuring inner diameter, wall thickness and calcification of femoral, popliteal and dorsalis pedis artery. DITI was done also. We analized the result of doppler ultrasono-graphy and DITI findings. RESULT: 1) In clinical characteristics of patients between nonperipheral arterial obliteration (NPAO) and PAO : there was no significant differences between two groups with respect to age, sex, smoking, BMI (body mass index), FPG (fasting plasma glucose)/2HPG (2 hour plasma glucose), HbA(1C), serum lipid profile and/or the frequency of NPDR (nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy). However, the number of patients with hypertension and 24hr urine total protein amount were significantly increased in PAO group. 2) The results of doppler ultrasonographic imaging of lower extremities: In PAO group, inner diameters of common femoral artery and dorsalis pedis artery were significantly narrower than in those of NPAO group. However, no difference was detected in respect to vessel wall thickness. The numbers of calcified vessel wall have significantly increased in all vessels in PAO group 3) The results of DITI patterns of big toes after cold stimulus: (1) In 49 patients with NPAO: 11 showed as normal, 14 an increased, 15 a decreased, and 9 flat patterns, respectively. (2) All of 22 patients with PAO showed abnormal patterns. Among them, 2 showed a decreased, but 20 a flat pattern. 4) The comparison between the results of doppler ultrasonography and DITI: In all groups, inner diameter of common femoral artery, which was measured by doppler ultrasonography, were narrow in the flat pattern. Also, the number of calcified vessel walls in common femoral artery and dorsalis pedis artery increased more in the same patterns. No significant difference of vessel wall thickness was found between both groups. CONCLUSION : Vasoreaction of lower extremities after cold stimulus was mainly related to PAO of the common femoral artery and dorsalis pedis artery. DITI is a useful method used in detecting the early state of artherosclerosis. As a result, it can be employed in early prevention and treatment of diabetic angiopathy. If DITI is combined with doppler ultrasonography, we can practice more precise diagnosis and follow-up in diabetic peripheral angiopathy.

• Keywords: Type 2 DM;Doppler ultrasonography;DITI;