Systemic arterial compliance is reduced in young patients with IDDM.

Abstract

Arterial elastic properties are altered with increasing age and in various disease states, including non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Whether young patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) have reduced arterial compliance before developing endothelial dysfunction or overt micro- and macrovascular disease is unclear. Systemic arterial compliance and endothelium-dependent, flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) was assessed in 25 individuals with uncomplicated IDDM (23 +/- 4 yr, 14 females and 11 males) and compared with 30 age-matched controls (15 females and 15 males). Arterial compliance was determined via simultaneous measurements of aortic blood flow and carotid ..