Non–Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus and Fasting Glucose and Insulin Concentrations Are Associated With Arterial Stiffness Indexes

Abstract

Our findings are compatible with the view that persons with NIDDM or borderline glucose intolerance have stiffer arteries than their counterparts with normal glucose tolerance and that the decreased elasticity is independent of artery wall thickness. The joint effect of elevated glucose, insulin, and triglycerides can have a considerable impact on arterial stiffness and play an important role in the early pathophysiology of macrovascular disease in NIDDM.

Arterial stiffness, hypertension and diabetes mellitus

“…7 Increased aortic PWV has been described by both Wahlqvist 26 and Lehman 27 in otherwise healthy subjects with type 2 diabetes. Salomaa 28 and Emoto 29 have also reported increased carotid artery stiffness in this patient group. Furthermore, in the ARIC study, carotid artery stiffness was positively correlated with serum glucose concentration.…”

“…Furthermore, in the ARIC study, carotid artery stiffness was positively correlated with serum glucose concentration. 28 Emoto reported an inverse correlation between stiffness and insulin sensitivity, and a positive correlation between stiffness and duration of diabetes. Abnormalities of the brachial pressure waveform, consistent with increased peripheral arterial stiffness, can also be detected early in the course of type 2 diabetes before complications of the disease become apparent.…”

“…30 It is unlikely that atherosclerosis per se accounts for the arterial stiffening which characterises type 2 diabetes, as changes in arterial stiffness have also been reported in association with elevated plasma glucose, even before the onset of frank diabetes. 28 Indeed, aortic PWV is increased in young nondiabetic adults with a family history of type 2 diabetes. 31 Whether the changes in arterial stiffness in diabetes are simply a marker for occult atheroma, or are causally involved in atherogenesis, remains unclear.…”

Blood pressure and atherosclerotic plaques in carotid, aortic and femoral arteries in elderly Finns with diabetes mellitus or impaired glucose tolerance

“…Nevertheless, most of the study subjects had type II diabetes or IGT, and previous studies have suggested that such subjects may have stiffer Blood pressure and atherosclerotic plaques U Rajala et al vessels than subjects with abnormal glucose tolerance. 33 Except for high SBP, high MBP was also associated with plaques in this study population. Apart from BP, male gender 5,12,28,30 and smoking [13][14]30 are well-established risk factors for atheromatous plaques.…”

Dynamic vessel wall properties and their reproducibility in subjects with increased cardiovascular risk

“…Assuming that the change in volume is due to a change in arterial crosssection rather than a change in arterial length, crosssectional compliance (CC) and distensibility (DC), defined as absolute respectively relative changes in arterial cross-sectional area divided by the change in arterial pressure, are simplified representatives of compliance and distensibility. 1 An unfavourable change in dynamic arterial wall properties of various arteries is found in populations with cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension, 2,3 smoking, 4 diabetes mellitus 5 and in patients with cerebrovascular disease. 6 A low CC is associated with a high pulse pressure and a high end-systolic wall stress, both involved in the development of carCorrespondence: F van den Berkmortel, Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, University Hospital Nijmegen, P.O.…”