Increased arterial wall stiffness and thickness in medium-sized arteries in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

By means of ultrasonography, arterial wall stiffness, arterial wall thickness, and the elastic modulus of the common femoral artery were estimated in a group of 19 young insulin-dependent diabetics. The ultrasound technique for determination of these parameters is described as well as the echo-anatomy of the arterial wall. In accordance with a previous investigation a significant rise in arterial wall stiffness was found. Furthermore, there was a highly significant correlation between the stiffness and the thickness of the arterial wall. The elastic modulus also correlated to the stiffness. It is concluded that the diabetic macroangiopathy is characterized by an increased stiffness of the arterial wall caused by increased thickness as well as by progressive alterations of the elastic characteristics of the wall tissue. Possible pathogenetic reasons are discussed.