Diabetes Does not Affect Outcome of Symptomatic Carotid Stenosis Treated with Endovascular Techniques

BACKGROUND: The influence of diabetes on carotid revascularization techniques is controversial, with few data regarding angioplasty and stenting (CAS). Our purpose was to analyze whether its presence constitutes a risk factor for poor outcome of patients with carotid stenosis treated with CAS. METHODS: We compared 30-day and long term morbidity and mortality, as well as restenosis rates, of non diabetic and diabetic patients with symptomatic carotid stenosis treated with endovascular techniques. RESULTS: 318 consecutive patients, 116 (36.5%) of them diabetics, were followed for a median of 56 months. Cumulative 30-day stroke, ischemic cardiopathy and death rate was 4% for non diabetics and 5.2% for diabetics (non significant). Long term stroke and mortality rate was 26.4% for the first group and 34.3% for the second (non significant). The most frequent causes of death were myocardial infarction (17.5% non diabetics, 44% diabetics, p = 0.04), ischemic stroke (12.5% non diabetics, 4% diabetics, non significant) and cancer (30% non diabetics, 16% diabetics, non significant). Twelve patients (6.4%) had restenosis ≥ 50%, 5.9% non diabetic, 7.4% diabetic, also without statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: In our series, endovascular treatment is both efficient and safe in diabetic patients with symptomatic carotid stenosis; therefore, the presence of diabetes mellitus did not increase the risks linked to CAS procedure.