Arterial pulsatility as an index of cerebral microangiopathy in diabetes type 2

Transcranial doppler is an inexpensive, non-invasive investigation. This study assessed its validity in determining cerebral small vessel disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Flow velocity and pulsatility index were measured in the middle cerebral, basilar and intracranial internal carotid arteries of a sample of 141 diabetic patients with no other risk factors, and 132 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. The patients were divided into 2 groups: 73 with complicated and 68 with uncomplicated diabetes. There was a statistically significant difference between the complicated diabetes and control groups for the 3 arteries and most indices. The differences between the uncomplicated diabetes patients and the controls were also statistically significant but less strongly. Transcranial doppler may be useful in early diagnosis of cerebral small vessel disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.