ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The early determination of the myocardial manifestation is of considerable importance, since the prognosis of patients (P) with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is generally masked by secondary cardiac complications. The aim of this study was to investigate whether young, asymptomatic P with IDDM and persisting normal systolic left ventricular (LV) function already show a diastolic LV dysfunction. METHODS: An echocardiographical examination of 92 IDDM patients (age: 25 +/- 4 years) without known cardiac disease and of 50 control persons (C) of similar ages was carried out. P with a cardiac disease or long-term diabetic syndrome were excluded. Using M-mode echocardiography, morphological parameters and systolic time-intervals (fractional shortening; ejection fraction) were determined. Doppler indices were then measured: maximal early and late diastolic flow velocity (VE; VA), E/A ratio, acceleration and deceleration time (DT), isovolumetric relaxation time (IVRT). RESULTS: Although the left atrial and left ventricular dimensions, as well as the systolic functional parameters of all P with IDDM were normal, they showed a diastolic dysfunction with a reduction of the early diastolic filling (VE; 0.54 +/- 0.07 m/s vs 0.72 +/- 0.04 m/s; p < 0.01) and the E/A ratio (0.9 +/- 0.15 vs 1.99 +/- 0.22; p < 0.01), an increase in the atrial filling (VA; 0.76 +/- 0.05 m/s vs 0.39 +/- 0.04 m/s, p < 0.01), an extension of the IVRT (129 +/- 23 ms vs 78 +/- 6 ms, p < 0.01), and an increased DT (248 +/- 27 ms vs 188 +/- 8 ms, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Even young P with IDDM, with a normal systolic ventricular function, suffer a diastolic dysfunction which serves as a marker of a diabetic cardiomyopathy. Therefore, echocardiography with measurements of systolic and diastolic functional parameters appears to be a sensible method for evaluating the course of diabetic cardiomyopathy.
