Aim: To evaluate the relationship between carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) and silent cerebral infarction (SCI) and to determine whether CIMT is a predictor of SCI in patients of type 2 diabetic nephropathy.
Methods: A total of 53 patients of known type 2 diabetic mellitus with nephropathy were selected on the basis of fasting and 2-hour post-prandial blood sugar, 24 hrs urinary albumin estimation, blood urea and serum creatinine. The selected candidates were subjected to MRI brain and carotid B mode ultrasonography to find out the presence of SCI and to find out the CIMT respectively.
Results: Study results shows 17(32.08%) cases had CIMT >0.9mm and majority had CIMT in higher range of 0.7-0.9mm in patients with type 2 diabetic nephropathy. The mean age, BMI, blood pressure (BP), macroalbuminuria, S. lipids, low GFR, duration of diabetes and CIMT were significantly higher in the subject with SCI than in those without it. Multiple logistic analysis indicated that age, BP, and CIMT were found to be significant and independent risk factors of SCI in patients of type 2 diabetic nephropathy.
Conclusion: CIMT is a surrogate and reliable predictor of higher risk of SCI among type 2 diabetic nephropathy patients.
