Cerebrovascular reactivity is impaired in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and microangiopathy.
BACKGROUND
Cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) is a hemodynamic parameter representing the increase in normal cerebral artery blood flow in response to a vasodilatory stimulus such as hypercapnia.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to assess CVR using transcranial Doppler ultrasound and the breath-holding test (BHT) in normotensive patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). The cerebrovascular response to hypercapnia was evaluated in relation to risk factors for cerebral microangiopathy.


METHODS
The study was carried out in a group of 34 normotensive NIDDM patients and a group of 31 sex- and age-matched normal controls. The NIDDM group was subdivided into 21 patients with microangiopathic complications (Group A, 12 men, 9 women; mean age 58.77 +/- 8.91 years) and 13 patients with no such complications (Group B, 8 men, 5 women; mean age 56.34 +/- 9.83 years). The control group comprised 17 men and 14 women (Group C, mean age 58.43 +/- 6.31 years). Exclusion criteria were hypertension and past or present symptomatic cerebrovascular disease. The BHT consisted of spontaneous hypercapnia induced by holding the breath for 20 seconds. CVR was estimated in relation to the increase in the mean flow velocity (MFV) compared with the basal velocity in both middle cerebral arteries during hypercapnia.


RESULTS
In Group A, the CVR was significantly decreased in 71.42% of patients, whereas in Group B only 30.76% of patients presented with mildly to moderately impaired CVR. Predictors for impaired % increase in the MFV during the BHT demonstrated by univariate regression analysis were: duration of diabetes (r = 0.802; P < 0.0001), fibrinogen (r = 0.574; P < 0.0001), C-reactive protein (r = 0.525; P < 0.001), proteinuria (r = 0.924; P < 0.0001) and serum creatinine (r = 0.969; P < 0.0001). Multivariate regression analysis showed as predictors: duration of diabetes (P < 0.0001), proteinuria (P < 0.0001) and serum creatinine (P < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
CVR is impaired in normotensive NIDDM patients. These cerebral hemodynamic changes correlate significantly with the duration of DM, parameters of inflammation, proteinuria and serum creatinine.
Petrica
Ligia
L
Department of Nephrology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania. ligiapetrica@rdslink.ro
Petrica
Maxim
M
Vlad
Adrian
A
Bob
Flaviu
F
Gluhovschi
Cristina
C
Gluhovschi
Gheorghe
G
Jianu
Catalin D
CD
Ursoniu
Sorin
S
Schiller
Adalbert
A
Velciov
Silvia
S
Trandafirescu
Virginia
V
Bozdog
Gheorghe
G
D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014463:Ultrasonography