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Updated: Apr 17, 2026

Quantitative Analysis and Characterization of Atherosclerotic Lesions in the Murine Aortic Sinus
Published on: December 7, 2013
Lack of evidence for progression of atherosclerosis during puberty in type 1 diabetes
Alexia S Peña1,2, Oana Maftei2, Jennifer Harrington2
1Robinson Research Institute and Discipline of Paediatrics, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, 5006, Australia.
Objectives:
Children with type 1 diabetes have early changes in vascular structure with increased aortic intima-media thickness (aIMT) or carotid IMT (cIMT). aIMT may be an earlier, more sensitive marker; however, longitudinal data in type 1 diabetes are lacking. This study will aim to evaluate changes in vascular structure (aIMT and cIMT) over 2 yr during puberty in children with type 1 diabetes and compare them with those in healthy children.
Research Design And Methods:
A total of 110 children (aged 10-18 yr, 55 males) participated in a prospective cohort study, including 77 children with type 1 diabetes and 33 age- and sex-matched healthy children. Ultrasound assessments of aIMT and cIMT; and clinical and biochemical data were collected at baseline and 2 yr later.
Results:
Mean and maximal aIMT or cIMT did not worsen over time in children with type 1 diabetes compared with healthy children. Longer duration of diabetes related to an increase in aIMT. Improvement in HDL cholesterol and leptin related to a decrease in aIMT. Higher baseline IMT related to an improvement in IMT in children with type 1 diabetes (mean and maximal aIMT: β = -0.52, p < 0.001; β = -0.49, p = 0.001, and mean and maximal cIMT: β = -0.36, p = 0.003; β = -0.40, p = 0.001), independent of cardiovascular risk factors.
Conclusions:
Aortic and carotid IMT does not deteriorate during puberty in children with type 1 diabetes. This has implications for the design of interventional studies in this important age group.
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