Key result
Elevated end-systolic pulse wave velocity and lower wall shear stress link to increased carotid thickness in T2D.
Why the study?
The study sought to assess multimodal ultrasound technology in the biomechanical assessment of carotid intima-media thickness in T2DM patients without atherosclerotic plaques or significant stenosis.
Does multimodal ultrasound (V-Flow and UF-PWV) detect subclinical biomechanical vascular alterations associated with increased carotid intima-media thickness in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus prior to plaque formation?
Cross-Sectional (n=92)
Single-blind
No
Does multimodal ultrasound (V-Flow and UF-PWV) detect subclinical biomechanical vascular alterations associated with increased carotid intima-media thickness in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus prior to plaque formation?
Effect estimate: B = 0.034 (95% CI 0.011 ~ 0.056)
p-value: p=0.004
Vector flow imaging and ultra-fast pulse wave velocity imaging can independently detect biomechanical alterations, specifically reduced wall shear stress and increased end-systolic arterial stiffness, associated with subclinical vascular structural changes in type 2 diabetes mellitus.
May identify subclinical carotid changes via multimodal ultrasound in T2DM; hypothesis-generating pending prospective validation.
Objective To assess multimodal ultrasound technology in the biomechanical assessment of carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), specifically focusing on those with increased cIMT but without atherosclerotic plaques or significant stenosis. Methods In this exploratory cross-sectional study, 65 T2DM patients (thickened vs. normal cIMT) and 27 controls were examined using color Doppler ultrasound flow imaging (CDFI), ultrasound vector flow imaging (V-Flow), and ultra-fast pulse wave velocity (UF-PWV). Measurements included peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV), pulsatility index (PI), resistance index (RI), wall shear stress (WSS), pulse wave velocity at the beginning of systole (PWV-BS), and pulse wave velocity at the end of systole (PWV-ES). Differences across groups and independent factors associated with cIMT were analyzed via correlation and multivariable linear regression. Results The T2DM group exhibited higher HbA1c levels than the control group ( P < 0.001). The T2DM with thickened cIMT group exhibited significantly lower EDV ( P = 0.005) and higher Body Mass Index (BMI) ( P = 0.006) than the control group. Furthermore, the same group showed significantly lower mean WSS (WSSmean) than the control and T2DM with normal cIMT groups ( P < 0.05). The T2DM with thickened and normal cIMT groups showed significantly higher PWV-ES than the control group ( P < 0.05). A positive correlation was observed between cIMT and BMI ( ρ = 0.392, P < 0.001), HbA1c ( ρ = 0.425, P < 0.001), and PWV-ES ( ρ = 0.506, P < 0.001). Both WSSmean ( ρ = −0.365, P < 0.001) and EDV ( ρ = −0.209, P < 0.05) were negatively correlated with cIMT. After adjustment for clinical covariates, BMI, WSSmean, and PWV-ES were identified as independent factors associated with cIMT in the overall cohort. In the T2DM group, PWV-ES ( B = 0.034, P = 0.004) and WSSmean ( B = −0.060, P = 0.039) remained independently associated with cIMT. Conclusion Preliminary findings suggest V-Flow and UF-PWV imaging may detect biomechanical alterations in T2DM patients. While these techniques may offer insights into subclinical vascular remodeling prior to plaque formation, this cross-sectional study should be cautiously interpreted as hypothesis-generating.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Nan et al. (2026) conducted a cross-sectional in Type 2 diabetes mellitus with subclinical carotid intima-media thickening (n=92). Type 2 diabetes mellitus vs. Healthy non-diabetic controls was evaluated on Independent association of end-systolic pulse wave velocity (PWV-ES) with carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) in T2DM patients (B = 0.034, 95% CI 0.011 ~ 0.056, p=0.004). In patients with type 2 diabetes, elevated end-systolic pulse wave velocity (B = 0.034) and reduced mean wall shear stress (B = -0.060) were independently associated with increased carotid intima-media thickness.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: