Early arterial lesions in maturity onset diabetes mellitus detected by an ultrasonic technique.

Using an ultrasonic technique preclinical atheroma was studied in maturity onset diabetics. The elasticity of the leg arteries was measured as the elastic modulus in 32 patients and a normal range was established in 13 controls. The elastic modulus was higher (i.e. the arteries were stiffer) in diabetics than controls and this was associated with a higher mean blood pressure in the diabetics. Nine phenformin and 10 chlorpropamide treated diabetics had evidence of more severe arterial disease than 13 diet treated patients. This could not be accounted for by other factors known to influence arterial disease.