Abstract
We studied the relationship between diabetes mellitus and renal arterial calcification in five diabetic patients and also observed the influences of calcification upon enal function.The results were as follows:
1) In all patients, renal arterial calcifications appeared as patches or spots in X-ray films, suggesting calcifications of atherosclerosis.
2) In all patients, renal arterial calcifications were observed bilaterally. At the same time, calcifications of the aorta, splenic artery, iliac arteries, nd femoral arteries were found in five, three, five, nd two of the five patients, respectively.
3) Renal dysfunction was seen in one of the five patients. But no atient seemed to have occlusions of the renal artery.
4) Control of diabetes mellitus of the five patients was poor. Fasting blood glucose was 210.2±41.0 mg/dl (mean±SEM) and the HbA1 level was 7.0 ± 0.6%. Duration of diabetes mellitus of the five patients was 16.0±3.8 years, which was twice as long s that of the diabetes group without arterial calcification (n=210).
5) The age of the five patients was 69.2±2.2 years, and that of the diabetes group ithout arterial calcification was 50.9±0.9 (p<0.01).
6) Systolic blood pressure of the five patients was 168.4±8.5 mmHg, and that of diabetes group without arterial calcification was 134.4±1.8 mmHg. (p<0.01).
7) One of the five patients was accompanied by ST-T change in ECG. Retinopathy and roteinuria were seen in three and four of the five patients, respectively.
These results suggested the necessity of a study exploring microangiopathy and alcification of arteries including the renal artery in elderly patients with along duration of diabetes mellitus and hypertension.
