E. Azevedo 1, S. Penas 2, C. Ferreira 1, L. Martins 2, A. Campilho 3, J. Polónia 4
1 Department of Neurology,
2 Department of Ophthalmology, São João Hospital Center and Faculty of Medicine of University of Porto,
3 Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Porto,
4 Arterial Hypertension Clinic of Hospital Pedro Hispano and Faculty of Medicine of University of Porto – Porto, Portugal
Objective: Diabetes mellitus (DM) leads to accelerated progression of arteriosclerosis in comparison to non-diabetic patients (non-DM). Retinopathy is a major microvascular complication of DM remaining a leading cause of blindness. Aortic stiffness and an increase in carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) are macrovascular complications that are associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity-mortality. It has been suggested that in DM blood pressure levels are more determinant than glycemic control of macrovascular lesions whereas retinopathy is more dependent on glycemic control.