Preclinical atherosclerosis in a group of young subjects with type 1 diabetes from a Mediterranean area

Background and objective: Carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and presence of atherosclerotic plaques were evaluated in a cross-sectional Study performed in a group of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T] D) subjects from a Mediterranean area without additional cardiovascular risk factors. These results were compared to those obtained from a reference population. Patients and methods: Twenty-two patients with T1D (age 34.6 (7.9) years) and a disease duration of 15.3 (5.9) years) were included. B-mode IMT measurements were used to evaluate cIMT and the presence of plaques. Results: A significantly higher cIMT and max-cIMT were found in patients with T1D in comparison with the age-reference population (0.52 (0.08) vs. 0.46 (0.09) mm; p < 0.001 and 0.63 (0.13) vs. 0.55 (0.12); p < 0.007 for cIMT and max-cIMT, respectively). The proportion of subjects affected by plaques within the group of T1D subjects was equivalent to the value observed in the 46-55 year-old reference group. Conclusion: Even in the absence of major cardiovascular Fisk factors, subjects with T1D from a low prevalence CVD risk area display signs of an increased and accelerated preclinical atherosclerotic process. (C) 2008 Elsevier Espana, S.L. All rights reserved.