Does diabetes protect the femoral artery against atherosclerosis?
OBJECTIVE
To compare the extent of angiographically detected stenoses in different segments of the lower leg arteries in diabetics and nondiabetics.


METHODS
The study group consisted of 60 nondiabetic and 38 diabetic patients with lower extremity disease and no previous vascular interventions. Arterial lesions were analysed by digital subtraction angiography (DSA). The patients were evaluated by walking distance and ankle-brachial index (ABI) and the reason for hospitalization was recorded.


RESULTS
Statistically significantly fewer stenoses were found in the superficial femoral artery in diabetics than in nondiabetics. Although a tendency to more diffuse changes in crural arteries was found, no statistically significant difference were found in other segments of the lower leg arteries apart from the femoral arteries.


CONCLUSIONS
Judging from the present results there are fewer angiographically detectable stenoses in the superficial arteries in diabetics than nondiabetics.
Virkkunen
Jyrki
J
Department of Surgery, Central Hospital of Central Finland, Jyväskylä. jyrki.virkkunen@fimnet.fi
Lavonen
Juha
J
Kankainen
Anna-Lisa
AL
Salenius
Juha-Pekka
JP
Riekkinen
Heikki
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000792:Angiography; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index