Early atherosclerosis in childhood type 1 diabetes: role of raised systolic blood pressure in the absence of dyslipidaemia

Eur J Pediatr. 2007 Jun;166(6):541-8. doi: 10.1007/s00431-007-0440-0. Epub 2007 Mar 27.

Abstract

The intentions of our investigation were (1) to search for atherogenic risk factors and signs of incipient atherosclerosis in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) in comparison to well-matched control subjects, (2) to evaluate risk factor associations with carotid intima media thickness (cIMT) in diabetic patients and control subjects, and (3) to acquire a better knowledge of early atherogenesis in children and adolescents with and without T1DM. 94 diabetic children (age median 12.3 years, HbA1c median 7.7%) and 40 non-diabetic controls (age median 12.3 years) were investigated. Mean cIMT was determined using high-resolution B-mode ultrasound with an automated contour identification procedure. Compared to controls, subjects with diabetes had significantly elevated cIMT (p = 0.041) and systolic BP (p = 0.007) but showed a less atherogenic lipid profile. Most markers of inflammation, endothelial function and fibrinolytic activity were higher in diabetic subjects than in controls. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed a significant relationship (r = 0.53, p = 0.036) between bilateral mean cIMT and diverse risk factors in patients with T1DM. Spearman rank correlation showed that diabetes duration (rho = 0.32, p = 0.029), systolic BP (rho = 0.32, p = 0.004), weight (rho = 0.257, p = 0.022), and height (rho = 0.265, p = 0.018) significantly correlated with bilateral mean cIMT in the 94 diabetic patients. In conclusion, in well-controlled type 1 diabetic children systolic BP may be of greater importance than dyslipidaemia in early atherogenesis. BMI, markers of sustained inflammation, endothelial dysfunction and fibrinolytic activity are increased in diabetic versus non-diabetic children but none of them correlates significantly with cIMT. Their prognostic value remains to be determined.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Atherosclerosis / etiology*
  • Biomarkers
  • Carotid Arteries / diagnostic imaging
  • Carotid Arteries / pathology
  • Child
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / complications*
  • Dyslipidemias / complications*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypertension / complications*
  • Linear Models
  • Male
  • Risk Factors
  • Tunica Intima / diagnostic imaging
  • Tunica Intima / pathology
  • Ultrasonography

Substances

  • Biomarkers