Extramural Coronary Artery Disease in Type I Diabetes Mellitus: A Quantative Autopsy Study

Author Institution: Departments of Pathology and Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, University of CincinnatiExtramural coronary arteries of 17 type I diabetics and 22 control patients were examined at necropsy following a detailed methodology plan. There was a greater extent of luminal narrowing in the extramural coronary arteries in the diabetic patients than in the controls. While it is known that in patients with the advanced stage of type I diabetes mellitus significant coronary atherosclerosis is likely to be present, it is new information that they have a propensity for obstructive atherosclerosis, not just in the 3 major coronary arteries but also in the branches. Young type I diabetics with atherosclerosis of proximal portions of the coronary vasculature are likely to have equally severe atherosclerosis in the distal portions and branches as well. Atherosclerosis was less severe in the diabetic patients who did receive hemodialysis and/or a renal transplant than those who did not