Arterial wall stiffness in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. An in vivo study.
The arterial wall stiffness in the common femoral artery was determined by means of an ultrasound technique in 47 insulin-dependent diabetics and 24 controls aged 20 to 39 years. They were all without vascular symptoms and signs, and were selected in such a way that they were thought to be free of age correlated changes. Furthermore, patients in potential risk groups, as for arterial disease of non-diabetic type, were excluded. The arterial wall stiffness was significantly increased in the diabetic group as compared with a control group. Furthermore, there was a significant correlation to the diabetic duration. Possible pathogenetic reasons are discussed.
D000328:Adult; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000473:pathology*; D004548:Elasticity; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014463:Ultrasonography