Significantly higher incidence of carotid atherosclerosis found in Japanese type 2 diabetic patients with early nephropathy

We have tried to evaluate the clinical incidence of carotid atherosclerosis found in Japanese type 2 diabetic patients with early diabetic nephropathy. 123 diabetic patients with micro-albuminuria (group A) were investigated during 2-week hospitalization. As a control group, 50 diabetic patients without nephropathy (group B) were investigated. Carotid arteries were examined by B-mode ultrasonography (7.5 MHz), and peripheral arterial blood flow and pressure was examined at the same time with Doppler ultrasonography by a single examiner. Fasting blood samples and 24-h urine samples were taken to analyze biochemical data and urinary albumin excretion rate. In group A, 77 patients were found to have either carotid plaque lesions or increased thickness of carotid wall. And this was found significantly higher than in the control group B (18 cases, P < 0.01). To clarify the clinical risk factors for carotid atherosclerosis in diabetic patients with early nephropathy, 123 group A patients were divided into two groups with (group C, n = 76) or without carotid atherosclerosis (group D, n = 47) and comparative analysis was carried out. From this study, significantly higher incidence of carotid atherosclerosis was confirmed in the diabetic patients with early nephropathy. And it was suggested that the age, lipid levels, presence of hypertension would be important clinical risk factors for carotid atherosclerosis found in diabetic patients with early nephropathy.