Myocardial involvement in diabetes mellitus: echocardiography data

Abstract

Echocardiographic parameters of the central and intracardiac hemodynamics were analyzed in 67 patients with compensated diabetes mellitus of types I and II of 2 to 6 years standing. The control group consisted of 30 subjects. The increase of the minute volume, stroke volume, specific power of the left ventricle, and reduction of total peripheral resistance were revealed in both groups of patients. These shifts are characteristic of a hyperkinetic type of central hemodynamics. The hyperdynamic syndrome was due to left-ventricular hypertrophy in patients with noninsulin-dependent diabetes and due to increased heart rate and the rate of circulatory shortening of myocardial fibers in patients with the insulin-dependent condition. Impaired diastolic function presenting as an increase of the end diastolic volume and a reduced rate of relaxation of the left-ventricular posterior wall myocardium were observed in all the patients, no matter what the type of the condition. The above shifts are predictors of a reduction of myocardial contractility, responsible for the grave and atypical course of coronary disease in diabetics.