Evaluation of Bulk Elasticity to Identify the Effects of Diabetes on Atherosclerosis

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a group of metabolic disorders that lead to hyperglycemia. It also predisposes patients to cardiovascular diseases including atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis alters the elasticity of arteries. Therefore, changes in elasticity of arteries can be a characteristic of disease progression. Methods: Bulk elasticity of seven individuals with diabetes and a healthy individual was evaluated by measurement of artery diameter during systolic and diastolic phases using Doppler echocardiography and measurement of pulse wave velocity (PWV) using the Sphygmocor system. Findings: Comparing the bulk elasticity evaluated by PWV of the diabetic group with normal ranges in different ages clarified the effects of diabetes on increasing bulk elasticity. The effect of diabetes on bulk elasticity is more obvious as the disease duration increases. Conclusion: PWV can be used as a method to distinguish the characteristics of atherosclerosis.

Keywords

• Bulk elasticity
• Atherosclerosis
• Diabetes
• Pulse wave velocity