Impact of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus on the Cerebral Blood Vessels in Asymptomatic Patients in Egypt (Ultrasonographic Study)

Diabetes is an important risk factor of extra and intracranial stenosis and hence can cause cerebrovascular stroke. In Egypt, prevalence of asymptomatic extra and intracranial blood vessels stenosis in diabetic patients is still unknown.

To estimate the prevalence of asymptomatic extra and intracranial vessels stenosis.

100 Patients with Type-2 Diabetes (T2D) were recruited consecutively from diabetes clinic of the department of internal medicine at Assiut University Hospitals in the period from 1st January 2016 to 31st January 2017. A detailed history was obtained for all participant. As well, thorough-out physical and neurologic examination were carried out for patients. All patients underwent extra cranial and transcranial colour coded ultrasound by two independent investigators. Patients with history of cerebrovascular stroke and transient ischemic attacks were excluded.

36% of patients had increased IMT, 6% had stenosis 50-69% and 2% had stenosis ≥ 70%. There was a positive correlation between age and increased IMT (r = 0.272) (P = 0.006) and between uncontrolled DM and increased IMT (r = 0.211) (P = 0.035). 26% of patients had stenosis of < 50% in vertebral artery (21% in V0 segment, 5% in V1 segment); being male and uncontrolled diabetes escalate the stenosis risk. MCA pulsatility index was found to be higher among old diabetics in comparison to younger diabetics and control group (r = -0.225) (P = -0.025). Also, the longer the time since T2D onset, the higher was MCA PSV (r = 0.244) (P = 0.014).

The cerebral blood vessels atherosclerotic changes (mainly extracranial) are higher among diabetics in comparison to healthy controls.