Common carotid arterial wall thickness in NIDDM subjects.

OBJECTIVE

To verify whether carotid arterial intimal plus media thickness (IMT) is greater in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) subjects, known to be at high risk for atherosclerosis. Evidence is growing that IMT is increased in subjects with coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors like hypercholesterolemia and cigarette smoking.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Fifty-four NIDDM subjects and 54 sex- and age-matched control subjects underwent CHD risk factors assessment and echo-Doppler examination of carotid arteries. IMT was measured by computer technique in the common carotid artery (CCA). Presence of plaques and/or stenosis (carotid atherosclerosis [CA]) was also evaluated by a single-blinded reader.

RESULTS

NIDDM subjects had larger IMT, higher levels of triglycerides, and lower concentrations of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol compared with control subjects. IMT was positively correlated to age and systolic blood pressure and inversely to HDL cholesterol in both groups. The prevalence of CA was 46% in NIDDM subjects and 18% in control subjects. In multiple regression analysis, IMT was the only variable significantly associated to CA.

CONCLUSIONS

IMT of CCA is enlarged in NIDDM subjects compared with control subjects. Its association with carotid plaques and/or stenosis might be of importance to detect early atherosclerotic lesions in the carotid arteries.