title: Microangiopathy of common carotid vasa vasorum in type 1 diabetes mellitus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We hypothesize that in type 1 diabetes vasa vasorum (VV) are affected by microangiopathic changes. For this purpose, we assessed the status of the VV signal in patients with type 1 diabetes.
  
  
  METHODS
  The VV signal at the arterial adventitia of the common carotid artery was evaluated by contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging. The VV contrast agent signal was quantified in an plaque-free arterial segment as the ratio of the adventitial signal and that of the lumen of the artery. We studied 113 type 1 diabetic patients, 60 with and 53 without retinopathy and without known cardiovascular disease, and a group of 78 non-diabetic subjects free of cardiovascular risk factors. All study subjects underwent a clinical evaluation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean ± standard deviation VV signal of healthy subjects was 0.562 ± 0.135. Type 1 diabetic patients showed a higher adventitial VV signal (0.723 ± 0.128) than non-diabetic subjects (P < 0.0001). After adjustment for cardiovascular risk confounders, this difference remained significant. No differences in VV signal, or common carotid intima-media thickness, between subjects with and without retinopathy were found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Type 1 diabetic patients, independently of their retinopathy status, show an increased angiogenesis of the VV of the common carotid artery compared with non-diabetic subjects. Diabetic microangiopathy, that according to our results would also affect the wall of the large arteries, could be a factor contributing to atherosclerosis in type 1 diabetes mellitus.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recerca Biomedica de Lleida, University of Lleida, Rovira Roure, 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain; Unitat de Detecció i Tractament de Malalties Aterotrombòtiques, Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova, Rovira Roure, 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain.
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rubinat
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Institut d'Investigacions Biomediques August Pi Suñer, Hospital Clinic, Villarroel, 170, 08036 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ortega
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova, Rovira Roure, 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain.
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Traveset
authors.affiliation: Unitat de Detecció i Tractament de Malalties Aterotrombòtiques, Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova, Rovira Roure, 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain; Department of Nephrology, Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova, Rovira Roure, 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain.
authors.forename: Maria V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Arcidiacono
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology & Nutrition, University Hospital and Health Sciences Research Institute Germans Trias Pujol, Carretera Canyet S/N, 08916 Badalona, Spain.
authors.forename: Nuria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.affiliation: Unitat de Detecció i Tractament de Malalties Aterotrombòtiques, Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova, Rovira Roure, 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain; Department of Nephrology, Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova, Rovira Roure, 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain.
authors.forename: Angels
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Betriu
authors.affiliation: Unitat de Detecció i Tractament de Malalties Aterotrombòtiques, Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova, Rovira Roure, 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain.
authors.forename: Minerva
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Granado-Casas
authors.affiliation: Unitat de Detecció i Tractament de Malalties Aterotrombòtiques, Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova, Rovira Roure, 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain; Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova, Rovira Roure, 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hernández
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova, Rovira Roure, 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain.
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Soldevila
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology & Nutrition, University Hospital and Health Sciences Research Institute Germans Trias Pujol, Carretera Canyet S/N, 08916 Badalona, Spain.
authors.forename: Manel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Puig-Domingo
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova, Rovira Roure, 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jurjo
authors.affiliation: Unitat de Detecció i Tractament de Malalties Aterotrombòtiques, Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova, Rovira Roure, 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain; Department of Nephrology, Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova, Rovira Roure, 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain.
authors.forename: Elvira
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.affiliation: Unitat de Detecció i Tractament de Malalties Aterotrombòtiques, Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova, Rovira Roure, 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain; Department of Endocrinology & Nutrition, University Hospital and Health Sciences Research Institute Germans Trias Pujol, Carretera Canyet S/N, 08916 Badalona, Spain. Electronic address: didacmauricio@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Didac
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mauricio
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology*; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003287:Contrast Media; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D014651:Vasa Vasorum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media
keywords: Atherosclerosis; Carotid ultrasound; Diabetic retinopathy; Macrovascular disease; Type 1 diabetes mellitus; Vasa vasorum