Background: Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) Is A Major Vascular Complication Of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), Resulting From Atherosclerotic Narrowing Or Occlusion Of Lower Limb Arteries. Duplex Ultrasonography Is A Reliable Non-Invasive Tool For Evaluating These Changes. Objectives: To Determine The Distribution Patterns Of Stenotic And Occlusive Atherosclerotic Lesions In The Lower Limb Arteries Of T2DM Patients Using Duplex Ultrasonography. Methods: A Retrospective Review Of 128 T2DM Patients Who Underwent Lower Limb Duplex Ultrasound Over 24 Months At Two Centres Was Conducted. Hemodynamically Significant Stenosis Was Defined As ≥50% Luminal Narrowing With A >100% Increase In Peak Systolic Velocity Or Distal “Parvus Tardus” Waveform, While Occlusion Was Defined As Absent Doppler Flow. Results: Mean Age Was 60.2 Years. Significant Stenotic Or Occlusive Lesions Were Found In 58 Patients (45.3%). Commonly Involved Arteries Were The Anterior Tibial (47.8%), Posterior Tibial (32.8%), And Dorsalis Pedis (18.8%). Less Frequent Involvement Was Observed In The Superficial Femoral (14.8%), Popliteal (7.8%), And Common Femoral Arteries (1.6%). Multivessel Involvement Occurred In 57 Patients, While 19 Had Single-Segment Disease. Conclusion: In T2DM, Lower Limb Atherosclerotic Lesions Are Predominantly Distal, Affecting Tibial Arteries With Frequent Multisegmental Involvement. Duplex Ultrasonography Is Invaluable For Early Detection And Characterisation.
GJ et al. (Tue,) studied this question.