Carotid intima-media thickness and arterial stiffness in relation to cerebral small vessel disease in neurologically asymptomatic individuals with type 1 diabetes

AIMS: To determine if arterial functional and structural changes are associated with underlying cerebral small vessel disease in neurologically asymptomatic individuals with type 1 diabetes. METHODS: We enrolled 186 individuals (47.8% men; median age 40.0, IQR 33.0—45.0 years) with type 1 diabetes (median diabetes duration of 21.6, IQR 18.2—30.3 years), and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls, as part of the Finnish Diabetic Nephropathy (FinnDiane) Study. All individuals underwent a biochemical work-up, brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound of the common carotid arteries and arterial tonometry. Arterial structural and functional parameters were assessed by carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), pulse wave velocity and augmentation index. RESULTS: Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) were present in 23.7% and white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) in 16.7% of individuals with type 1 diabetes. Those with type 1 diabetes and CMBs had higher median (IQR) CIMT 583 (525 – 663) μm than those without 556 (502 – 607) μm, p = 0.016). Higher CIMT was associated with the presence of CMBs (p = 0.046) independent of age, eGFR, ApoB, systolic blood pressure, albuminuria, history of retinal photocoagulation and HbA(1c). Arterial stiffness and CIMT were increased in individuals with type 1 diabetes and WMHs compared to those without; however, these results were not independent of cardiovascular risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: Structural, but not functional, arterial changes are associated with underlying CMBs in asymptomatic individuals with type 1 diabetes. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at (10.1007/s00592-021-01678-x).