Abstract

BACKGROUND
Atherosclerosis is more prevalent in diabetic patients, severe and wide spread than in non-diabetic subjects and clinically evident as macrovascular diseases such as coronary, cerebro- vascular and peripheral arterial diseases which are important causes of frequent morbidity and premature mortality. But atherosclerotic vascular lesions are not easily detectable, before they advanced and cause symptoms. Measurement of carotid Intima-Media thickness(IMT) by high- resolution B-mode ultrasonography is a useful, non-invasive method to detect early atherosclerotic vascular changes. In this study, we investigated associations of IMT with cardiovascular risk factors. METHODS: High-resolution B-mode ultrasonography was performed in 63 non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients in order to determine maximal and mean carotid IMT. Blood pressure, glucose, HbA total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels were measured on a regular basis in the last 12 months before the carotid ultrasonography. The mean and last values at the time of the carotid ultrasonography were analyzed in relationship to the IMT. RESULTS: Carotid IMT was increased in NIDDM patients with male sex, smoking habit and hypertension. Systolic blood pressure (r=0.252, p=0.050) and LDL cholesterol levels (r=0.273, p=0.031) at the time of carotid ultrasonography showed a correlation with the IMT. Mean triglyceride (r=0.368, p=0.018) and HbA1c>, levels (r=0.288, p=0.045) of the last 12 months were correlated with the IMT. CONCLUSION: Increased carotid IMT was associated with male sex, smoking, hypertension, systolic blood pressure, LDL cholesterol, mean HbA, and triglyceride levels.

• Keywords: Key Words;Atherosclerosis;Diabetes Mellitus;Intima-Media Thickness