Relationship between cerebral infarction combined with type 2 diabetes mellitus and carotid atherosclerosis

Objective: To explore the relationship between cerebral infarction acompanied by type 2 diabetes mellitus and carotid atherosclerosis.Methods: The intima-media thickness of the carotid artery,the area and quality of carotid plaque and the level of stenosis of artery were measured in 37 cerebral infarction patients combined with type 2 diabetes mellitus using carotid artery ultrasound.Results: Cerebral infarction combined with type 2 diabetes mellitus was obviously correlated with carotid atherosclerosis plaques.Atherosclerosis plaques was found in 32 cases in the diabetes group,and only 19 cases in the contral group;and the plaques rarely caused severe stenosis of carotid artery(P<0.005).The infarction position was obviously homolateral to the carotid atherosclerosis.As the time of diabetes meuitus prolonged,the appearance of carotid atherosclerosis plaques increased,which might be related with blood glucose,blood lipids and fibrinogen(P<0.05-P<0.001).Conclusions: Most patients with cerebral infarction combined with type 2 diabetes mellitus had carotid atherosclerosis plaques.It is of clinical value to prevent cerebral vascular disease in patients with diabetes mellitus and provide proper treatment for patients with cerebral infarction complicated with type 2 diabetes mellitus.