Doppler ultrasound was used to detect early changes in arteries of the legs by two independent techniques. Pulse-wave velocity was measured to calculate arterial wall compliance and Fourier analysis was used to measure damping of the pulse-wave forms. Ten non-insulin-dependent diabetic men with no clinical evidence of peripheral arterial disease had significantly lower compliance and greater pulse-wave damping than 10 matched nondiabetic control subjects. There was a good correlation between the results for the two different techniques.

Doppier ultrasound was used to measure pulse wave velocity down the aorta and iliac arteries. Arterial wall compliance was calculated from pulse wave velocity in 45 apparently healthy men. Their arterial compliance fell significantly with advancing age, raised blood pressure, increased serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and reduced serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. The correlation between compliance and age was independent of the other risk factors, and the correlation between compliance and Iipid status was independent of age and blood pressure. There was no significant correlation between compliance and area under the glucose tolerance curve. (Arteriosclerosis 6:105-108, January/February 1986)