Cerebral microangiopathy in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
BACKGROUND
The aim of the study was to evaluate cerebral microangiopathy in type 2 noninsulin- dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) patients and to establish potentially conducive factors.


METHODS
A group of 34 patients with NIDDM and 31 gender- and agematched normal controls (NC) were assessed by extracranial Doppler ultrasound, in order to evaluate the pulsatility index (PI) and the resistance index (RI) in the internal carotid arteries (ICAs); transcranial Doppler was utilised to assess the same parameters in the middle cerebral arteries (MCAs). All patients underwent screening for favouring factors for cerebral vascular remodelling.


RESULTS
Of the 34 NIDDM patients, 21 patients (61.76%) (subgroup A) presented with microangiopathic complications [of these, 19 patients (90.46%) had diabetic nephropathy (DN)] versus 13 NIDDM patients (38.24%) (subgroup B) without complications. In subgroup A, 16 patients (76.19%) had PI >1 and RI >0.7 in the ICAs and MCAs (changes consistent with cerebral microangiopathy) versus 5 patients (35.46%) in subgroup B, and no modifications in NC. Of the 19 patients with DN, 14 patients (73.68 %) had impaired haemodynamic indices. Univariate regression analysis showed the following risk factors for the cerebral haemodynamics changes: fibrinogen (F) (OR = 3.11), C-reactive protein (CRP) (OR = 2.40), duration of DM (OR = 2.40), proteinuria (OR = 1.80), serum creatinine (OR = 1.66). Multivariate regression analysis showed as predictors for impaired haemodynamic indices: duration of DM (HR =1.70), proteinuria (HR = 1.70). The haemodynamic indices in the ICAs correlated with duration of DM (r = 0.87, P <0.0001), F (r = 0.86; P <0.0001), CRP (r = 0.80; P <0.0001); in the MCAs with the duration of DM (r = 0.66, P <0.0001), F (r = 0.38; P <0.0001), CRP (r = 0.88; P <0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Cerebral microangiopathy has a high prevalence in NIDDM patients. These cerebral vascular changes correlate with the duration of DM, parameters of inflammation, and proteinuria.
Petrica
Ligia
L
Department of Nephrology, County Emergency Hospital, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania. ligiapetrica@rdslink.ro
Petrica
Maxim
M
Munteanu
Mircea
M
Vlad
Adrian
A
Bob
Flaviu
F
Gluhovschi
Cristina
C
Gluhovschi
Gheorghe
G
Jianu
Catalin
C
Schiller
Adalbert
A
Velciov
Silvia
S
Trandafirescu
Virginia
V
Bozdog
Gheorghe
G
D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012383:Romania; D013997:Time Factors; D018617:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Pulsed