Abstract
Background: This study aimed at documenting the degree of atherosclerosis, which is an important macrovascular complication in Nigerian children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus as determined by ultrasonography using the carotid, femoral and brachial arteries. Method: A prospective observational study was performed on all 10 children diagnosed with diabetes mellitus at the paediatric endocrinology clinic, in a tertiary unit based in Nigeria over a six-month period. Results: All 10 children were aged between 12 - 17 years (Median = 16 years) and consist of 5 (50%) males and 5 (50%) female. The duration of diabetes ranged from 0.2 to 9 years. Four (40%) of the subjects had thickened carotid intima media thickness on either the left or right common carotid artery; 5 (50%) had 0% flow mediated dilation of the brachial artery while the remaining 5 (50%) had normal flow mediated dilation; while 2 (30%) had intima media thickening of either the left or right superficial femoral artery using a cut-off value of 0.9 cm. Conclusion: Children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus have ultrasonic evidence of ongoing atherosclerosis. The use of ultrasound is recommended for detection and monitoring of atherosclerotic changes in children with DM.
Highlights
This study aimed at documenting the degree of atherosclerosis, which is an important macrovascular complication in Nigerian children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus as determined by ultrasonography using the carotid, femoral and brachial arteries
A prospective observational study was performed on all 10 children diagnosed with diabetes mellitus at the paediatric endocrinology clinic, in a tertiary unit based in Nigeria over a six-month period
Four (40%) of the studied subjects were found to have an intima media thickness (IMT) value greater than 0.8 mm on either side of the carotid IMT (Figure 1), 2 (20%) of the subjects had intima media thickening of the superficial femoral arteries and 5 (50%) had degrees of dilation of the brachial artery following occlusion ranging from 3.23% to 10.53%
Summary
Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic condition characterized by hyperglycemia due to absolute insulin deficiency secondary to autoimmune. Chronic inflammation in the islets, usually after years, and rarely in just months, leads to insulin-dependent diabetes [1]. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death in people with diabetes [3]. Several markers have been used reliably to assess atherosclerosis namely carotid intima media thickness (IMT) [7], brachial artery flow mediated dilation (FMD) [8] and femoral IMT with the use of ultrasonography. This study aimed at documenting the degree of atherosclerosis, which is an important macrovascular complication in Nigerian children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus as determined by ultrasonography using the carotid, femoral and brachial arteries.
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