Original scientific paper

Atherosclerotic Lesions of Supra-Aortic Arteries in Diabetic Patients

Vinko Vidjak
Andrija Hebrang
Boris Brkljačić
Mladen Brajša
Karlo Novačić
Ante Barada
Andrija Škopljanac
Lidija Erdelez
Maja Crnčević
Damir Kučan
Zlata Flegar-Meštrić
Danijela Vrhovski-Hebrang
Goran Roić

Abstract

The aim of this prospective study was to determine the prevalence and localization of stenotic atherosclerotic lesions of
supra-aortic arteries in diabetic patients according to age and sex. Angiograms obtained by digital subtraction angiography
were analyzed in 150 diabetic patients (study group) and 150 non-diabetic patients (control group) with symptoms of
cerebral ischemia. Diabetic patients were found to have a significantly higher prevalence of stenotic atherosclerotic lesions
of the internal carotid artery. Lesions of the large supra-aortic arteries were significantly more common in the left
than in the right side of the neck (p<0.001), but the difference between the diabetic and the non-diabetic group did not
reach statistical significance. Hemodynamic conditions were found to be more important than diabetes for the occurrence
of atherosclerotic lesions in these arteries. Changes in the proximal segment of the left common carotid artery were the
most common finding in diabetic patients, hence attention should be paid to this localization on control examinations.

Keywords

supra-aortic arteries; diabetes mellitus; atherosclerotic lesions; digital subtraction angiography

Hrčak ID:

26886

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/26886

Publication date:

3.9.2007.

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