Elastic modulus in young diabetic patients (ultrasound measurements of pulse wave velocity).

Aim of this study is to confirm the validity of non-invasive evaluation with Doppler C.W. in the study of arterial diseases and in the identification of pre-clinical arterial lesions. We studied twenty-eight children suffering from diabetes mellitus, and dependent on insulin and a control group composed of twenty-eight healthy persons. All subjects were studied using the methodology of the transit time for the determination of the elastic modulus of the lower limb arterial wall and results were analysed according to a statistical method. Although the groups were small, an increase in pulse wave velocity was noted in diabetic children and a significative correlation was found between the elastic modulus and duration of diabetes.