NIDDM Is Associated With Lower Wall Shear Stress of the Common Carotid Artery

摘要

The mechanisms underlying macrovascular complica- tions in NIDDM are partially understood. In addition to increased prevalence and severity of systemic cardio- vascular risk factors, local alterations of arterial wall and hemodynamics may play a role. Atherosclerotic lesions usually lie in regions of low wall shear stress. We therefore investigated the wall shear stress-that is, the frictional force acting tangentially to the endothelial surface-in the common carotid artery of diabetic and control subjects. Enrolled were 18 male NIDDM subjects and 18 age-matched control subjects.