Aortic distensibility (AD) is a marker of the elastic properties of the aorta. Reduction of AD occurs early in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and it is associated with subclinical generalized atherosclerosis. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is common in subjects with T2DM and predicts cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. This study examined the potential relationship between MetS and AD in a cohort of subjects with T2DM.
First Department of Propaedeutic Medicine, Laiko General Hospital, Athens University Medical School, 17 Agiou Thoma Street, 115 27, Athens, Greece. ntentol@med.uoa.gr.