ESPE Abstracts

Background: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is an important risk factor for cardiovascular events. Endothelial dysfunction and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) lead to increased cardiovascular complications. Adhesion molecules such as vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) are markers of early atherosclerosis and play a significant role in developing atherosclerosis. The general aim of the present study was to investigate the association between the levels of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1, and CIMT in the children and adolescents with T1DM.

Objective and hypotheses: In this descriptive, cross-sectional study conducted between April 2013 and September 2014, 29 children aged 7–20 years with T1DM for at least 2 years and 29 age and sex-matched, healthy individuals were included.

Method: CIMT was assessed by Doppler ultrasound, and the level of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 was measured by ELISA. The data were analyzed by SPSS 16.

Results: Independent t-test indicated a significant difference in ICAM-1 level between the patients and controls (P<0.001) Further, CIMT was derived significantly different between the patients and the controls (P<0.001). Pearson’s correlation coefficient indicated that CIMT was not significantly associated with the level of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 in the patients (P>0.50).

Conclusion: The studied vascular endothelial markers were not associated with CIMT. But, CIMT and level of ICAM-1 were significantly different between the patients and controls, and therefore could be used as appropriate tools to examine the progression of early atherosclerosis in children and adolescents with T1D.