title: Assessment of carotid atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with microalbuminuria by high-frequency ultrasonography.
abstract: The aim of this study is to evaluate carotid atherosclerosis in patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus with microalbuminuria (MA) by high-frequency ultrasonography. Two hundred and fifty patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus were divided into two groups according to urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER): normoalbuminuria group (130 cases) and microalbuminuria group (120 cases). The intimal-medial thickness (IMT) and the atherosclerotic plaques of carotid artery were observed in both groups by high-frequency ultrasound. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), hemoglobin A1c, and lipid profiles were measured. The values of IMT of microalbuminuria group were significantly higher than those of normoalbuminuria group (P < 0.05). In univariate analysis, IMT was positively and significantly associated with age (r = 0.265, P < 0.05), waist circumference (r = 0.263, P < 0.05), body mass index (r = 0.285, P < 0.05), systolic blood pressure (r = 0.276, P < 0.05), UAER (r = 0.359, P < 0.05), HbA1c (r = 0.462, P < 0.05) and, duration of diabetes (r = 0.370, P < 0.05). In multivariate linear regression analysis, UAER and HbA1c were independent predictors of IMT (P < 0.05 for all). In the two groups, the rate of soft plaques was higher than that of dense plaques and calcified plaques. In conclusion, there is a significant association between microalbuminuria and IMT which is regarded as the early sign of carotid atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetic patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Ultrasound, Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, 467 Zhongshan Road, Dalian 116023, China.
authors.forename: Yu-Hong
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shang
authors.forename: Ben-Li
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Su