Diastolic function abnormalities in young symptomatic diabetic patients assessed by pulsed doppler echocardiography

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to evaluate left ventricular [LV] diastolic function in young asymptomatic insulin-dependent diabetic patients. Thirty young asymptomatic patients [<35 years] and 15 control subjects were included. Patients were not received medications except insulin. Autonomic function tests, fundus examination were used to evaluate diabetic complications. Blood glucose and lipid profile were measured in all patients. M-mode, two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography were used to study LV systolic and diastolic functions. Peripheral neuropathy was present in all patients and autonomic neuropathy in 23 [73.3%], resting tachycardia in 12 patients [40%], proteinuria in 14 [46.7%], retinopathy in 7 patients [23.3%]. Eight patients [26.7%] had LV diastolic dysfunction represented by decreased E filling and increased A with reversed PE/PA and increase atrial contribution of diastolic filling as compared to other diabetics. There was significant correlation between diastolic dysfunction, diabetic complications [r=0.51, P <0.05] and blood glucose [r=0.49, P <0.05], but not correlated with duration of diabetes or insulin dose. It was concluded that subclinical LV diastolic dysfunction is present in diabetic and is related to microvascular complications and hyperglycemia, but not related to the duration of the disease or insulin dose