The Relationship between Microalbuminuria and Atherosclerosis in Patients with Type II Diabetes and Evaluate the Parameters of Internal Carotid Artery Duplex Sonographic Scanning

Objective: We aimed to determine the relationship between microalbuminuria and atherosclerosis in patients with Type II diabetes and evaluate the parameters of extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) duplex ultrasonographic scanning; pulsatile index (PI) and resistive index (RI) in relation to microalbuminuria, which is an indicator of microangiopathy. Materials and Methods: The study population was 42 patients with Type II diabetes. The parameters of ICA duplex ultrasonographic scanning, intima-media thickness (IMT) of common carotid artery, and urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio were measured, and their relationships were analyzed. Results:A total of 42 patients were included in the study. Microalbuminuria was detected in all of five cases who had plaque in ICA. Of the 35 patients who had no plaque, microalbuminuria was not detected in 23 cases (65.7%). This shows that atherosclerosis may correlate well with the progression of microangiopathy. Microalbuminuria was detected in 6 cases (85.7%) with common carotid artery wall IMT ≥1 mm, but microalbuminuria was not detected in 1 (14.3%) case. This shows a statistically significant presence of concurrent microalbuminuria in Type II diabetic patients with intima-media thickness increase. PI and RI values of ICA were not differentiated in microalbuminuria and non-microalbuminuria group. Hence, the PI and RI values are not available to use as an indicator of microangiopathy in patients with diabetes. Conclusions:Atherosclerosis is correlated well with the progression of microangiopathy in Type II diabetic patients. Diabetic patients with microalbuminuria can be examined for carotid arteries with B mode and color Doppler sonography to detect atherosclerosis.