BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility and value of strain-blood pressure index (SBPI) to assess early changes in elasticity of anterior tibial artery in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eighty-one randomly selected in-patients with T2DM were divided into 2 groups – a vascular complication negative group (n=42) and a vascular complication positive group (n=39). Forty healthy volunteers were enrolled in a control group. Ultrasonographic scans using Xstrain™ technique were conducted for every patient to obtain the maximum circumferential strain (CSmax) of anterior tibial artery; patient blood pressure was also measured for calculating strain-blood pressure index (SBPI=CSmax / [(local pulse pressure) / local diastolic blood pressure] ×100%. Afterwards, SBPIs of various groups were comparatively analyzed.

RESULTS: Differences in SBPIs among the 3 groups were statistically significant (control group > negative group > positive group, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: SBPI could be used as a new indicator for the evaluation on the anterior tibial arterial elasticity of T2DM patients and it was able to reflect the early elasticity changes in anterior tibial arteries in T2DM patients with atherosclerosis.

Keywords: Blood Pressure, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - physiopathology, Elasticity, Tibial Arteries - physiopathology, Tunica Intima - ultrasonography