Application of high resolution sonography in evaluating vascular endothelial function in patients with early-stage diabetic patients

Objective To evaluate the endothelial function in diabetic patients by high resolution sonography. Methods The intima-media thicknesses (IMT) of the bilateral carotid artery, femoral artery and the iliac artery of 22 elderly patients and 142 non-elderly patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and 20 elderly and 20 non-elderly healthy persons were measured. The changes of the diameter of brachial artery were determined by measuring the diameter of brachial artery during reactive hyperemia and after sublingual nitroglycerin. Results The increased percentage of the brachial artery diameter under reactive hyperemia was significantly lower in elderly patients with DM (10. 03±6. 39)% than that in the elderly healthy control (15. 87±4. 79)% (P0. 05), and was significantly lower in non-elderly patients with DM (13.38±5.94)% than that in the healthy non-elderly ones (16.91±5.97)%. There was no significant difference in the changes between the two groups in response to nitroglycerin (P 0. 05). The IMT in elderly patients with early-stage DM incrassated significantly(P0. 05). Conclusions The injuries of vascular endothelial function can be detected in early-stage of DM by high resolution sonography, which has clinical significance and applicable value.