title: Magnetic resonance imaging measures of decreased aortic strain and distensibility are proportionate to insulin resistance in adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) have evidence of increased aortic stiffness or early atherosclerosis as measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  T1DM increases risk for cardiovascular disease in adults but whether this process starts in childhood is unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 54 T1DM patients (15.4 ± 2.6 yr) and 30 age-matched controls (14.8 ± 2.7 yr) participated.
  
  
  METHODS
  MRI was performed to assess aortic arch pulse wave velocity (PWV), strain, and distensibility of the ascending and descending thoracic aorta and measures of atherosclerosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Groups were well-matched for age, pulse pressure, and gender. Low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) was higher in T1DM (119.3 ± 50 vs. 76.1 ± 13.5 mg/dL, p < 0.0001). There was a trend toward decreased strain and distensibility in T1DM vs. controls in the ascending (distensibility: T1DM 62.2 ± 19.9 kPa⁻¹ × 10⁻³, control 71.6 ± 26.4 kPa⁻¹ × 10⁻³, p = 0.08) and descending aorta (strain: T1DM 25.8 ± 6.2% vs. control 28.3 ± 6.8%, p = 0.09). There was no difference in arch PWV. Advancing age and male gender was negatively associated with aortic stiffness. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) was inversely related to descending aorta strain and distensibility (p < 0.05). Children with diabetes in the lowest two tertiles of insulin sensitivity demonstrated thoracic descending aortas with significantly lower strain (p = 0.027) and distensibility (p = 0.039) and increased measures of wall irregularity (p = 0.005). There were no differences in measurements of atherosclerosis between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adolescents with T1DM, especially those with lower insulin sensitivity, demonstrated a trend toward stiffer, less compliant thoracic aortas, which was inversely associated with diabetes control. These data suggest large vessel aortopathy starts early in T1DM.
authors.affiliation: Nemours Cardiac Center, AI duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, USA.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: McCulloch
authors.forename: Nelly
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mauras
authors.forename: Jose A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Canas
authors.forename: Jobayer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hossain
authors.forename: Kaitlin M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Sikes
authors.forename: Ligeia C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Damaso
authors.forename: Alban
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Redheuil
authors.forename: Judith L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: Samuel S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Gidding
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000150:complications*; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D059289:Vascular Stiffness
chemical_list: D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human
keywords: adolescents; cardiovascular diseases; insulin resistance; magnetic resonance imaging; type 1 diabetes mellitus