[Atherosclerotic changes in the carotid artery detected by ultrasound in newly diagnosed type II diabetics].

In a group of 107 middle-aged men with newly detected diabetes type II the authors investigated by means of a double ultrasonographic examination the incidence of atherosclerotic changes of the carotid artery. The incidence of atherosclerotic lesions on the carotid artery was relatively high (44% of the group), the majority of arterial stenoses was, however, without haemodynamic impact. A frequent finding were calcifications in the sclerotic plaques. Affection of the carotid artery was significantly frequently associated with ischaemic heart disease and ischaemia of the lower extremities. As compared with the results of examinations of the lipoprotein and carbohydrate metabolism, the authors found in men with affected carotid arteries as compared with not affected subjects significantly higher triacylglycerol levels, higher levels of circulating insulin and a higher ratio of total to HDL cholesterol.