Cerebrovascular Reactivity, Intima-Media Thickness, and Nephropathy Presence in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE — Cerebrovascular reactivity impairment was reported as a marker of cerebral microangiopathy in long-term type 1 diabetes. Intima-media complex thickening reflects early stages of macroangiopathy in type 1 diabetes. The analysis of the relationship between these variables and other microangiopathic complications might serve as a beneficial indicator for early prophylaxis in these patients. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS — Vasomotor reactivity reserve (VMRr) and breath-holding index (BHI) of the middle cerebral artery were measured with transcranial Dopp-ler in 59 patients (median age 32.0 years, range 20–51, 36 females) with type 1 diabetes, without history of cerebrovascular events, and 30 healthy control subjects (median age 31.5 years, range 25–39, 15 females). The relationships between the presence of selected vascular complications of type 1 diabetes and biochemical parameters, intima-media thickness (IMT), and VMRr and BHI in patients were analyzed. RESULTS — VMRr and BHI were lower in patients with type 1 diabetes when compared with healthy subjects (81.5 vs. 100%, P 0.01, and 1.6 vs. 2.2, P 0.04, respectively), whereas IMT was significantly higher in patients then in healthy control subjects (0.36 vs. 0.30 mm,