INCREASED STIFFNESS OF THE AORTA IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES-MELLITUS

An ultrasonic system fitted with echo-tracking circuits was used to in vestigate the mechanical properties of the descending aorta in childre n and adolescents with insulin-dependent diabetes (IDDM). Seventy-six children and adolescents (aged 5-20 years) with uncomplicated diabetes and 75 age- and gender-matched healthy controls were examined. All su bjects were normotensive. A nonlinear correlation between the stiffnes s index of the aorta and the age was found in both the diabetic (r = 0 .47; P < 0.001) and control group (r = 0.57; P < 0.001). The stiffness index was higher among the diabetic subjects as compared to the contr ols (P < 0.01). No difference regarding stiffness of the aorta was fou nd between genders in either of the groups. No correlation was observe d between the stiffness index and the duration or degree of the metabo lic control of diabetes. Our study demonstrated an increased stiffness of the aorta in children and adolescents with IDDM at the stage when no vascular complications were detected clinically.