Abstract：Objective: To detect carotid elasticity in patients with diabetic retinopathy by E-Tracking technique. Methods: Ninety patients of type 2 diabetes and 30 healthy volunteers were recruited in the study. The systolic diameter of the carotid artery(Ds), thickness of intima media(IMT), peak systolic velocity(PSV), resistance index(RI), pressure strain elastic modulus(Ep), stiffness parameter(β), arterial compliance(AC), pulse wave conducting velocity(PWVβ), augmentation index(AI) were evaluated. Results: ①The Ds, PSV, RI of group A, B, C were not obviously different from those of the control group. The IMT of group B and C was statistically different from that of the control group(P<0.05 and P<0.01). ②Ep, β, PWVβ and AI of group A were higher than those of the control group(P<0.01 for Ep and β; P<0.05 for PWVβ and AI); AC of group A was lower than that of the control group(P<0.05). Statistic difference of the Ep, β, PWVβ, AC existed among different diabetic groups(P<0.05). Conclusion: In patients with type 2 diabetes, damage of endothelium function already exists before the morphology changes of sclerosis observed in carotid artery. The elasticity of carotid artery decreases more obviously in patients with diabetic retinopathy.
2009, Vol. 20 
