Effect of sulfonylureas on attenuation of electrocardiographic ST- segment elevation during an acute myocardial infarction in diabetics

ABSTRACT

Background: Sulfonylureas are primarily used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus act by inhibiting ATP sensitive potassium ATP (K-ATP) channels. Similar channels are also present are also present in heart venticular muscle. Previous studies reveal that these drugs are able to reduce the electrocardiographic ST- segment elevation changes during an acute myocardial infarction. Hence, the present study was designed to evaluate the attenuating effect of sulfonylureas on ST- segment elevation in diabetic patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction.Methods: This cross sectional study included 73 diabetic patients presenting with the signs and symptoms of acute myocardial infarction of less than 24 hours duration along with CPK levels of more than 25 IU/L. Of them 5 were excluded from the study. The remaining 68 patients were included in the study, out of which 36 patients were in the study group (sulfonylurea group), and 32 patients were in the control group (non-sulfonylurea group).Results: No statistically significant difference was seen in the demographic parameters like age, sex, duration of diabetes mellitus and CPK levels (p>0.05). Among 68 patients 38 patients were diagnosed as STEMI. The mean magnitude of ST-elevation in the study group (n=16) was 2.3�12 and in control group (n=22) patients it was 3.7�33. The percentage of NSTEMI was significantly higher in study group compared to control. Statistically significant difference (p<0.05) was seen only between CPK level of range 25 and 100IU/L and mean magnitude of ST-segment elevation in STEMI patients. Significant difference in the mean magnitude of ST-segment elevation was observed in case of females among the study and control groups (p<0.05).Conclusions: Sulfonylureas drugs play a significant role in attenuation of ST-segment in diabetic patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction. Further, large multicentric studies are required to confirm the exact correlation between sulfonylureas and ST-segment.