Abstract

BACKGROUND
Brachial ankle pulse wave velocity (BaPWV) and cardio ankle vascular index (CAVI), as indicators of arterial stiffness, are increased in type 2 diabetes. Albuminuria, as a cardiovascular risk factor in type 2 diabetes, can cause endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis, and these can increase arterial stiffness. So we investigated the hypothesis that increased albuminuria reflects increased BaPWV and CAVI in type 2 diabetes. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 106 patients (58 men and 48 women) with type 2 diabetes from March 2005 to September 2006. Urine albumin creatinine ratio (ACR) to evaluate urinary albumin excretion, BaPWV and CAVI were measured in all patients. RESULTS: All patients were divided 3 groups, normal group (ACR < 30 mg/g Cr., n = 31), microalbuminuria group(30 < or = ACR < or = 30 mg/g Cr., n = 42), proteinuria group(ACR > 300 mg/g Cr., n = 33). BaPWV and CAVI in microalbuminuria group and proteinuria group are faster than normal group. In bivariate correlation analysis, BaPWV was not associated with ACR, but CAVI was positively correlated to ACR (r = 0.285, P = 0.003). BaPWV was positively correlated to age, diabetes duration, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, diastolic pressure, pulse pressure and negatively correlated to glomerular filtration rate (GFR). CAVI was positively correlated to age, diabetes duration and negatively correlated to GFR. In multiple linear stepwise regression analysis, BaPWV was not associated with ACR, but ACR was independent predictor for CAVI (P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: In type 2 diabetes, albuminuria was independent predictor for indicators of arterial stiffness, especially CAVI.

• Keywords: Albuminuria;Blood flow velocity;Diabetes mellitus