Carotid intima media thickness decreases after pancreas transplantation.

Publication/Presentation Date

3-27-2002

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Pancreas transplantation (PTX) improves diabetic microvascular complications, but it is unknown whether PTX alters macrovascular disease. Carotid intima media thickness (IMT) has been shown to correlate with cardiovascular events, so this study was designed to evaluate changes in carotid IMT after PTX.

METHODS: Four groups were studied: PTX candidates (n=60); successful PTX recipients (n=89; mean time since PTX=4.0+/-0.3 years); patients with type 1 diabetes but without nephropathy (n=20); and normal controls (n=32). Mean IMT and mean of maximum carotid IMT measurements (mean-max IMT), hemoglobin A1C, serum creatinine, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, smoking status, use of hypolipidemic medications, and fasting lipids were determined in all groups.

RESULTS: Age, gender distribution, and BMI were not different among the groups. Duration of diabetes was also equal between pre- and post-PTX groups. Mean and mean-max IMT were greatest pre-PTX and decreased after PTX (P

CONCLUSIONS: Carotid IMT is lower after PTX, suggesting a reduction in overall cardiovascular risk independent of changes in use of hypolipidemic agents, smoking, blood pressure, BMI, or lipids, except HDL. Improved carotid IMT after successful PTX predicts a reduction in future vascular disease events and suggests that the macrovascular disease of type 1 diabetes is at least partially reversible with improved glucose control.

Volume

73

Issue

6

First Page

936

Last Page

940

ISSN

0041-1337

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

PubMedID

11923696

Department(s)

Fellows and Residents

Document Type

Article

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS