Features and influencing factors analysis of internal and external carotid atrtery stenosis in patients with cerebral infarction combined with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Objective To study the features and influencing factors of internal and external carotid atherosclerotic stenosis in cerebral infarction patients combined with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods The clinical data of 268 cerebral infarction patients with T2DM were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were examined with digital subtraction angiography (DSA) to detect atherosclerotic lesions in intracranial and extracranial cerebral arteries, and they were all diagnosed as atherosclerotic cerebral artery stenosis. The patients were then classified based on the different location of lesions, the frequency of risk factors of atherosclerosis were compared among these groups. Results In all patients, 123 cases (45.9%) had only intracranial artery stenosis, 80 cases (29.9%) had only extracranial artery stenosis, and 65 cases (24.2%) had both intracranial and extracranial stenosis (combine group). The levels of total cholesterol in the intracranial artery group were significantly higher than that in other two groups (P all<0.05). The incidence of intracranial vascular occlusion was significantly higher than that of extracranial vascular occlusion. The common blood vessels involved were the anterior cerebral artery and internal carotid artery. Conclusions The occurrence of stenosis in intracranial arteries is more frequent than that in extracranil arteries in cerebral infarction patients with T2DM. The lipid level is the most risking factor of atherosclerosis for cerebral atherosclerosis. Key words: Cerebral infarction; Type 2 diabetes mellitus; Atherosclerosis; Carotid artery stenosis