[Usefulness of pulse oximetry in screening of carotid atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus].
OBJECTIVE
Pulse oximetry of the toes has been suggested in the screening of peripheral arterial disease. We studied the uselfuness of pulse oximetry in detection of type 2 diabetic patients with carotid atherosclerosis.


METHODS
105 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) without previous clinical peripheral arterial disease were enrolled. All patients had (1) ankle-brachial index (ABI) measurement, (2) pulse oximetry to measure SaO(2) of their index fingers and big toes in the supine position and at elevated 30cm and (3) a carotid ultrasound [carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) and carotid plaques (CP) measurements]. The ABI was considered abnormal when it was <0.9 and when the pulse oximetry showed a decrease in SaO(2) of >2% of the finger compared to foot or to 30cm foot elevation.


RESULTS
60 patients were men (age of 62+/-7 years, HbA(1c) of 6.9+/-1.0); 58.1% had CP. There were no differences in anthropometric and biochemical results between patients with or without CP. The ABI was <0.9 in 49% and 25% of patients with and without CP, respectively. Neither were there differences in pulse oximetry in patients with CP or in those with ABI <0.9. The IMT did not change in relation to pulse oximetry, but it was higher in patients with CP and with ABI <0.9 than in patients without alterations. These results were independent of the presence of previous clinical macroangiopathy.


CONCLUSIONS
Pulse oximetry is not a useful screening method of carotid atherosclerosis in type 2 DM.
Pellitero
Silvia
S
Servicio de Endocrinología y Nutrición, Departamento de Medicina Interna, Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Universitat Autònoma Barcelona, Badalona, Barcelona, España. spellitero.germanstrias@gencat.cat
Reverter
Jordi L
JL
Pizarro
Eduarda
E
Granada
M Luisa
ML
Aguilera
Eva
E
Sanmartí
Anna
A
D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications*; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010092:Oximetry; D014463:Ultrasonography