Cerebral Microangiopathy in Patients with Non-Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus

Introduction: The aim of the study was to evaluate cerebral microangiopathy in type 2 non-insulin -dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) patients and to establish potentially conducive factors. Materials and Methods: A group of 34 patients with NIDDM and 31 gender- and age-matched normal controls (NC) were assessed by extracranial Doppler ultrasound, in order to evaluate the pulsatility index (PI) and the resistance index (RI) in the internal carotid arteries (ICAs); transcranial Doppler was utilised to assess the same parameters in the middle cerebral arteries (MCAs). All patients underwent screening for favouring factors for cerebral vascular remodelling. Results: Of the 34 NIDDM patients, 21 patients (61.76%) (subgroup A) presented with microangiopathic complications [of these, 19 patients (90.46%) had diabetic nephropathy (DN)] versus 13 NIDDM patients (38.24%) (subgroup B) without complications. In subgroup A, 16 patients (76.19%) had PI > 1 and RI > 0.7 in the ICAs and NICAs (changes consistent with cerebral microangiopathy) versus 5 patients (35.46%) in subgroup B, and no modifications in NC. Of the 19 patients with DN, 14 patients (73.68 %) had impaired haemodynamic indices. Univariate regression analysis showed the following risk factors for the cerebral haemodynamics changes: fibrinogen (F) (OR = 3.11), C-reactive protein (CRP) (OR = 2.40), duration of DM (OR = 2.40), proteinuria (OR = 1.80), serum creatinine (OR = 1.66). Multivariate regression analysis showed as predictors for impaired haemodynamic indices: duration of DM (HR = 1.70), proteinuria (HR = 1.70). The haemodynamic indices in the ICAs correlated with duration of DM (r = 0.87, P < 0.0001), F (r = 0.86; P < 0.0001), CRP (r = 0.80; P < 0.0001); in the MCAs with the duration of DM (r = 0.66, P < 0.0001), F (r = 0.38; P < 0.0001), CRP (r = 0.88; P < 0.0001). Conclusion: Cerebral microangiopathy has a high prevalence in NIDDM patients. These cerebral vascular changes correlate with the duration of DM, parameters of inflammation, and proteinuria.