title: Arterial wall structure and dynamics in type 2 diabetes mellitus methodological aspects and pathophysiological findings.
abstract: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM), or adult-onset diabetes, is being considered as a new pandemic. Cardiovascular disease is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in type 2 DM, due to arterial structure and functional changes. Assessment of arterial structure and biomechanics, by non-invasive methods and parameters, can be used to detect early alterations related to DM. Three markers of vascular disease may help to a better evaluation of vascular dysfunction in type 2 DM patients: carotid intimamedia thickness (IMTc), arterial stiffness, assessed by pulse wave velocity (PWV), and endothelial function, evaluated through the brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD). Among these parameters, IMTc is considered a marker of structural vessel wall properties, and arterial stiffness reflects functional wall properties. Endothelial function represents the arterial way to actively regulate its diameter (smooth muscle-dependent actions) and its visco-elastic properties (wall elasticity and viscosity). IMTc is increased in patients with type 2 DM and other independent risk factors, such as: age, hyperlipidemia and duration of DM. Subjects with DM have shown increased arterial stiffness. Type 2 DM is associated with reductions in FMD (endothelial dysfunction), which has already been reported to be inversely and strongly related to the extent of hyperglycemia. The underlying patho-physiological mechanisms are complex and remain to be fully elucidated. A complete understanding of the association between arterial alterations and early detection, and type 2 DM, may be critical for the primary prevention of DM-related macro-vascular disease.
authors.affiliation: Hypertension Section, Metabolic Unit, Universitary Hospital Fundación Favaloro, Buenos Aires, Argentina. achristen@ffavaloro.org
authors.forename: Alejandra I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Christen
authors.forename: Ricardo L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Armentano
authors.forename: Adrián
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miranda
authors.forename: Sebastián
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Graf
authors.forename: Daniel B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Santana
authors.forename: Yanina
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zócalo
authors.forename: Hugo P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Baglivo
authors.forename: Ramiro A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Sánchez
mesh_terms: D001158:Arteries / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004548:Elasticity; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000150:complications; D012307:Risk Factors; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014664:Vasodilation; D014783:Viscosity