COMMON CAROTID ARTERIAL-WALL THICKNESS IN NIDDM SUBJECTS

OBJECTIVE- To verify whether carotid arterial intimal plus media thick ness (IMT) is greater in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDD M) 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. R ESEARCH 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 com puter technique in the common carotid artery (CCA). Presence of plaque s and/or stenosis (carotid atherosclerosis [CA]) was also evaluated by a single-blinded reader. RESULTS - NIDDM subjects had larger IMT, hig her 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 NI DDM subjects and 18% in control subjects. In multiple regression analy sis, IMT was the only variable significantly associated to CA. CONCLUS IONS - IMT of CCA is enlarged in NIDDM subjects compared with control subjects. Its association with carotid plaques and/or stenosis might b e of importance to detect early atherosclerotic lesions in the carotid arteries.