A family history of NIDDM is associated with decreased aortic distensibility in normal healthy young adult subjects.
OBJECTIVE
NIDDM is associated with stiffer arteries and an increased incidence of macrovascular disease. NIDDM has strong familial inheritance. We studied the associations of a family history of NIDDM with blood pressure-corrected aortic distensibility (Cp).


METHODS
Because age is a strong determinant of arterial distensibility, we studied an age-select cohort of 67 healthy normotensive normoglycemic young adults along with fasting measurements of glucose and insulin concentrations. Cp was calculated from noninvasive Doppler ultrasound measurements of pulse wave velocity along the descending thoracoabdominal aorta.


RESULTS
The mean age of the subjects was 20.6 +/- 0.7 (mean +/- SD) years. A total of 22 subjects gave a positive family history of NIDDM in a parent or grandparent. Subjects with a positive family history of NIDDM had significantly less distensible (i.e., stiffer) aortas than their age- and sex-matched counterparts who gave no family history of NIDDM (Cp [dimensionless]: 0.22 +/- 0.04 vs. 0.25 +/- 0.04, P = 0.02). Subjects with a positive family history of NIDDM also had significantly higher fasting glucose (5.1 +/- 0.4 vs. 4.9 +/- 0.4 mmol/l, P = 0.009) and insulin (7.5 +/- 5.5 vs. 4.2 +/- 2.0 mU/l, P = 0.02) levels and BMIs (23.2 +/- 2.3 vs 21.1 +/- 2.5 kg/m2, P = 0.002). On multivariate regression analysis, family history of NIDDM (P = 0.03) was the only significant independent predictor of Cp.


CONCLUSIONS
A positive family history of NIDDM is associated with decreased aortic distensibility in early adult life. The relevance of these observations to future cardiovascular events merits further investigation.
Hopkins
K D
KD
Division of Medicine, United Medical and Dental Schools of Guy's and St. Thomas' Hospitals, University of London, U.K. rmhakah@ucl.ac.uk
Lehmann
E D
ED
Jones
R L
RL
Turay
R C
RC
Gosling
R G
RG
D000328:Adult; D001011:Aorta / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000235:genetics*; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D009679:Nuclear Family; D012016:Reference Values; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler
D001786:Blood Glucose; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D007328:Insulin; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol