Left ventricular performance and autonomic dysfunction in patients with long-term insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

Cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) is a very frequent complication of insulin-dependent mellitus type 1, affecting the sympathetic or parasympathetic sections or both. The different impairment in the two sections might modify left ventricular function early. To evaluate this relationship, we studied 61 patients (mean age 39.6±7 years) with type 1 diabetes for more than 10 years, without coronary artery disease (CAD; negative ergometric stress test) and without other pathologies that could interfere with ventricular function. All patients underwent MONO-, 2-dimensional and Doppler echocardiographic examination and radionuclide angiography with⁹⁹Tc (RNA). According to the outcome of the Ewing tests, patients were divided into two groups: group A with two or more tests altered (26 patients with CAN) and group B with one or no tests altered (35 patients without CAN). No significant differences between the two groups were found in the systolic function parameters with either technique. In contrast, a pattern of abnormal relaxation was found for the diastolic function parameters: in group A a decrease in E-wave velocity and its time-velocity integral and an increase in A-wave and its time-velocity integral were detected with echocardiography. Moreover, RNA showed a reduced peak filling rate and an increased isovolumic relaxation time. When compared with normal values, an abnormal diastolic filling, defined as two independent echocardiography plus one RNA variable impairment, was found in 15 patients (57.6%) in group A and in only 4 patients (11.4%) in group B (P<0.001). Our findings suggest an early involvement of diastolic function in patients with CAN.     

Effects of dynamic exercise and metabolic control on left ventricular performance in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

Summary In subclinical diabetic cardiomyopathy, previous reports did not positively correlate the altered cardiac performance with metabolic parameters. Fifteen insulin-dependent diabetic subjects, without any clinical or instrumental evidence of heart diseases, were studied. Signs of diabetic microangiopathy were absent. Systolic time intervals, metabolic and hormonal parameters (blood glucose, free fatty acids, blood lactate and plasma norepinephrine) were evaluated at rest and after dynamic exercise during poor (MAGE 6.36±0.72 mmol/l) and good (MAGE 3.46±0.66 mmol/l) metabolic control, obtained by means of insulin therapy. Rest values of systolic time intervals were normal during poor and good metabolic control. After exercise, pre-ejection period/left ventricular ejection time ratio increased mainly during poor control as a result of an increased pre-ejection period: conversely, a smaller increase in pre-ejection period/left ventricular ejection time ratio occurred during good metabolic control. The exercise-induced free fatty acids utilization did not occur during poor control as it occurred during good control. The percentage of increments in blood lactate was virtually identical in ketotic and non-ketotic patients and in normal subjects. High norepinephrine plasma levels were observed both at rest and during dynamic exercise in poorly controlled diabetic patients. Conclusively, testing of systolic time intervals after exercise might be useful in the detection of preclinical diabetic cardiomyopathy. The decreased cardiac functional reserve observed during poor control might be related to an altered energetic fuel utilization.     

Alterations of left ventricular function in women with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus during pregnancy

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: During pregnancy, eminent cardiovascular changes occur. The aim of the following study was to investigate the course of haemodynamic parameters under the increased volume load during pregnancy and delivery in women with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. METHODS: We examined 51 pregnant diabetic women and 51 healthy pregnant women. The control group consisted of 51 healthy non-pregnant women. In all women, left ventricular mass and fractional shortening were calculated. To evaluate left ventricular diastolic function, mitral inflow and pulmonary venous flow profiles were analysed. RESULTS: During pregnancy left ventricular mass increased, fractional shortening decreased and diastolic dysfunction was found. While the healthy pregnant women developed signs of disturbed relaxation during pregnancy, pregnant diabetic women showed signs of a disturbed relaxation at the beginning of gestation. Of the pregnant diabetic women, 29 developed a restrictive filling pattern at the 24th week of gestation. The remaining 22 diabetic women had a comparable restrictive filling pattern only during vaginal delivery. In 10 of the 29 pregnant diabetic women dangerous complications were documented, while there were no complications in the healthy pregnant women and the other 22 diabetic pregnant women. CONCLUSION/INTERPRETATION: In healthy women pregnancy results in a reversible physiologic left ventricular hypertrophy, a disturbed relaxation pattern and a temporary decrease of left ventricular systolic function. In contrast, pregnant diabetic women showed a delayed relaxation at the beginning of pregnancy and developed a restrictive filling pattern. The early development of a restrictive filling pattern could indicate complications during delivery in pregnant diabetic women.     

Alterations of left ventricular systolic and diastolic function in pregnant women with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND: During pregnancy, major cardiovascular changes occur. The aim of the following study was to investigate the course of hemodynamic parameters under the increased volume load during pregnancy and delivery in women with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. METHODS: We examined 51 pregnant diabetic and 51 healthy pregnant women. The control group consisted of 51 healthy non-pregnant women. In all women, left ventricular mass and fractional shortening were calculated. To evaluate left ventricular diastolic function, mitral inflow and pulmonary venous flow profiles were analyzed. RESULTS: During pregnancy left ventricular mass increased, fractional shortening decreased and diastolic dysfunction was found. While the healthy pregnant women developed signs of disturbed relaxation during pregnancy, pregnant diabetic women showed signs of a disturbed relaxation already at the beginning of gestation. A total of 29 pregnant diabetic women developed a restrictive filling pattern already at the 24th week of gestation. The remaining 22 diabetics had a comparable restrictive filling pattern only during vaginal delivery. In 10 of the 29 pregnant diabetic women dangerous complications were documented, while there were no complications in the healthy pregnant women and the other 22 diabetic pregnant women. CONCLUSIONS: In healthy women pregnancy results in a reversible physiologic left ventricular hypertrophy, a disturbed relaxation pattern and a temporary decrease of left ventricular systolic function. In contrast, pregnant diabetic women demonstrated a delayed relaxation at the beginning of pregnancy and developed a restrictive filling pattern. The early development of a restrictive filling pattern may predispose to complications during delivery in pregnant diabetic women.     

Psychiatric disorders in juvenile patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

The relationships of psychiatric characteristics to metabolic control and psychosocial functioning were examined in a group of 16 patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) (mean age: 14.3+/-5.1 years, mean duration of follow-up: 5.0+/-2.3 years) and psychiatric disorders. The comparison is also made to 69 IDDM controls (mean age: 17.0+/-6.7 years) without psychiatric disorders. Metabolic control was evaluated in terms of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c). Psychosocial functioning at both psychiatric treatment entry and discharge was assessed using the global assessment of functioning (GAF) scale. Subjects were divided into three subgroups - Somatoform Type (25%), Behavioral Type (50%) or Psychotic Type (25%) - according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, third edition revised (DSM-III-R), based on semi-structured interviews. Four patients (25%) were diagnosed as having schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder (Psychotic Type), which is rather rare. The mean HbA1c level in the Behavioral Type patients was significantly higher than in the other subgroups (P<0. 01). After psychiatric treatment a significant difference (P<0.0001) in the GAF Scale was observed in the Psychotic Type compared with the other subgroups. We conclude that the Behavioral Type is associated with poor metabolic control and that for the Psychotic Type, improved psychosocial functioning can be achieved through psychiatric treatment.     

Increased QT dispersion in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

AIM: To compare the QT dispersion in unselected patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus to non-diabetic control subjects and to assess the association between the QT dispersion and cardiac autonomic neuropathy, ischaemic heart disease, blood pressure level and nephropathy. METHODS: 42 patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and 80 control subjects aged 40-57 years participated. The QT interval was measured in a resting 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) and the QT dispersion defined as the difference between the maximum and minimum QT interval. Bazett's formula was used to correct for heart rate (QTc). The degree of cardiac autonomic neuropathy was assessed by five function tests and ischaemic heart disease was defined by a previous myocardial infarction, ECG abnormalities or a positive exercise test. RESULTS: Compared to control subjects, diabetic patients had a longer QTc interval (433 vs. 416 ms; P=0.002) and a higher QT dispersion (36 vs. 30 ms; P=0.02). In the diabetic group, the QTc interval was prolonged in patients with autonomic neuropathy (449 vs. 420 ms; P=0.007) and the QT dispersion was increased in patients with ischaemic heart disease (51 vs. 33 ms; P=0.004). No association was found to urinary albumin excretion rate or blood pressure. CONCLUSION: The QT dispersion as well as the QTc interval is increased in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The association between QT dispersion and ischaemic heart disease indicates that abnormalities in cardiac repolarisation may be caused by complications to diabetes rather than diabetes in itself.     

应用实时三维超声心动图早期发现2型糖尿病患者左室构型及功能异常

目的 应用实时三维超声心动图评价2型糖尿病患者不同血压水平左室构型及功能的改变.方法 105例入选者分为DM组、DM合并高血压组(DM+HT)及健康对照(NC)组,对3组相关临床资料及超声检查结果进行对比分析.结果 三组之间左室舒张末期容积(EDV)、左室收缩末容积(ESV)、左室质量指数(LVMI)、射血分数(LVEF)及心室短轴缩短率(FS)差异有统计学意义(P均＜0.05),DM+HT组明显高于其他两组(P＜0.05);应用实时三维超声心动图测量:DM组及DM+HT组LVEF低于NC组(P＜0.05),且DM+HT组较DM组降低更明显(P＜0.05).结论 2型糖尿病患者早期存在左心室结构及功能受损, 这些改变随血压升高更为明显,应用实时三维超声心动图可更早期发现.     

Evidence of left ventricular dysfunction in asymptomatic elderly patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

Diabetic cardiomyopathy is a distinct entity in diabetic patients with congestive heart failure, who have no angiographic evidence of significant coronary artery stenosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate left ventricular (LV) function in 24 elderly patients (mean age 67 +/- 2 years) with type 2 diabetes, who were asymptomatic and had no history of hypertension, or coronary or valvular heart disease. LV systolic indices (ejection fraction [EF] and fractional shortening [FS]), diastolic indices (E wave, A wave, E/A ratio, isovolumic relaxation time [IVRT] and deceleration time [DT]) and the myocardial performance index (MPI) were evaluated with echocardiography. Compared to controls (24 age- and gender-matched normal subjects), the E wave was reduced (0.60 +/- 0.10 m/sec vs 0.72 +/- 0.08 m/sec, p < 0.05), the A wave was increased (0.77 +/- 0.07 m/sec vs 0.68 +/- 0.06 m/sec, p < 0.05), the E/A ratio was decreased (0.78 +/- 0.20 vs 1.06 +/- 0.18, p < 0.001) and both IVRT and DT were prolonged (0.115 +/- 0.01 sec vs 0.09 +/- 0.01 sec, p < 0.001 and 0.240 +/- 0.04 sec vs 0.180 +/- 0.03 sec, p < 0.001, respectively). The MPI was significantly increased (0.640 +/- 0.170 vs 0.368 +/- 0.098, p < 0.001). LV diastolic function and the MPI are markedly impaired in asymptomatic elderly patients with type 2 diabetes.     

Increase in left ventricular chamber stiffness in patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus

Indices of left ventricular ejection and diastolic filling were measured by cineventriculography in 11 patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus without significant coronary stenosis and 11 control subjects without diabetes mellitus. Indices of left ventricular ejection, such as ejection fraction and peak ejection rate, were the same in the two groups. The left ventricular end-diastolic volume index and the rapid filling volume index were significantly smaller, the peak filling rate was lower, the left ventricular end-diastolic pressure was higher and the modulus of left ventricular chamber stiffness was larger in the diabetic patients than in the control subjects. These results indicate that left ventricular chamber stiffness is increased in patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus.     

Association between cortisol and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in patients with diabetes mellitus

Aims/IntroductionDiabetes mellitus is a major risk factor for the development of cardiovascular diseases. Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction is characterized by left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD). It has been reported that excess cortisol found in patients with Cushing''s syndrome was associated with the development of LVDD. However, the relationship between cortisol concentration and LVDD in patients with diabetes mellitus has not been addressed.Materials and MethodsWe enrolled 109 patients with diabetes mellitus and 104 patients without diabetes mellitus who had undergone echocardiographic examination at Kyushu University Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan, between November 2016 and March 2019. Left ventricular function was evaluated and the ratio of early diastolic velocity from transmitral inflow to early diastolic velocity (E/eʹ) was used as an index of diastolic function. Plasma cortisol concentrations, glycemic control, lipid profiles, treatment with antidiabetic drugs and other clinical characteristics were evaluated, and their associations with E/eʹ were determined using univariate and multivariate analyses.ResultsMultivariate linear regression analysis showed that log E/eʹ was positively correlated with age (P = 0.017), log systolic blood pressure (P = 0.004) and cortisol (P = 0.037), and negatively correlated with estimated glomerular filtration rate (P = 0.016) and the use of sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (P = 0.042) in patients with diabetes mellitus. Multivariate analysis showed that cortisol was positively correlated with age (P = 0.016) and glycated hemoglobin (P = 0.011). There was no association between E/eʹ and cortisol in patients without diabetes mellitus.ConclusionsIncreased cortisol levels might increase the risk of developing LVDD in diabetes mellitus patients.     

Intracellular metabolism in patients with insulin-dependent and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

Slow infusion of neutral insulin causes in patients with insulin dependent and noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus diverse changes in the levels of cAMP, cGMP and the cAMP/cGMP ratio in leukocytes in spite of one-type changes in the concentration of contrainsular hormones in the venous blood: in patients with noninsulin dependent DM a raised cAMP/cGMP factor was lowered whereas in patients with insulin dependent DM it was increased. The authors put forward for discussion the problem of the postreceptor mechanisms of tissue insulin resistance in noninsulin dependent DM and a possibility of the use of the above indices for differential diagnosis of DM types.     

Smoking and metabolic control in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

Within a defined geographical area, all 192 subjects with insulin-dependent diabetes of at least 2 years duration and free of diabetic complications were identified; 60 (31%) were smokers. The prevalence of smoking increased significantly with increasing haemoglobin A1c levels (17.5% among subjects with the best metabolic control, 47.5% in those with the worst control). Smoking and non-smoking diabetic patients did not differ in attitudes towards the disease, psychological well-being, extent of tedium, frequency of self-controls of blood glucose or proportion of patients with any sick leave in the preceding 2 years. In a case referent study of 25 matched patients with good or poor metabolic control, exposure to smoking was significantly more common among those with poor control (odds ratio 6.0). Thus there are several lines of evidence that smoking is associated with impaired metabolic control in patients with diabetes.     

Gender-related difference in left ventricular diastolic elastance during exercise in patients with diabetes mellitus

Background Because the ratio of mitral inflow and annular velocity to stroke volume has been reported as an index of diastolic elastance (Ed), the hypothesis tested in the present study was that Ed during exercise would be more abnormal in female than in male patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods and Results Ed was measured at rest and during graded supine bicycle exercise (25W, 3-min increments) in 53 patients (27 males, mean age 53+/-14 years) with type 2 diabetes and 53 age- and gender-matched controls. The patients with diabetes were divided into 2 groups by gender. Ed was not significantly different at rest between men and women, but was significantly higher during exercise in women than in men (25 W, 0.15+/-0.04 vs 0.20+/-0.07, p=0.009; 50 W, 0.16+/-0.05 vs 0.21+/-0.08, p=0.0175). Conclusion Left ventricular (LV) diastolic elastance is abnormal during exercise, but not at rest, in patients with diabetes without overt heart disease. Female gender was associated with increased LV stiffness during exercise among patients with type 2 diabetes. (Circ J 2008; 72: 1443 - 1448).     

应用超声心动图评价2型糖尿病患者的左室功能

目的:利用超声心动图对2型糖尿病患者左室功能进行检测分析,旨在早期发现糖尿病患者的心功能改变。方法:入选糖尿病患者42例(糖尿病组),健康体检者30例(健康对照组);采用M型超声心动图测量左室射血分数(LVEF)、左室短轴缩短率(LVFS);利用脉冲多普勒超声心动图测量二尖瓣口及右上肺静脉血流参数,包括左室舒张早期E峰速度峰值(E)、舒张晚期A峰速度峰值(A)、计算E/A比值、心房收缩期肺静脉逆向流速峰值(ap)。结果:与健康对照组比较,糖尿病患者组舒张功能指标E/A[(1.12±0.14)比(0.95±0.56)]明显降低(P<0.05),ap[(23.54±2.91)cm/s比(31.73±9.97)cm/s]明显升高(P<0.001)。结论:糖尿病患者首先出现左室舒张功能下降,表现为E/A比值降低,肺静脉逆向流速峰值升高,对糖尿病患者应尽早进行心功能检查,以便早期发现心功能不全,早期治疗。     

Low prevalence of microalbuminuria in normotensive patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

We studied the prevalence of microalbuminuria (urinary albumin excretion rate [UAER] greater than 20 micrograms/min less than or equal to 200 micrograms/min) as determined in a single, timed, overnight urine collection in 156 normotensive (BP less than 140/90), Albustix negative subjects with type 1 diabetes and its association with arterial blood pressure, the duration of diabetes, levels of glycosylated hemoglobin, body mass index, daily insulin dose and serum cholesterol. Nineteen subjects (12.2%) had a UAER in the microalbuminuric range. The microalbuminuric patients had a significantly longer duration of diabetes, 21 +/- 2 vs 15 +/- 1 years (P less than 0.01), higher diastolic blood pressure, 80 +/- 2 vs 76 +/- 1 mmHg (P less than 0.05) and serum cholesterol concentration, 206 +/- 11 vs 186 +/- 3 mg/dl (P less than 0.05) than did the normoalbuminuric subjects. There were no differences between the normoalbuminuric and microalbuminuric subjects in terms of age, systolic blood pressure, body mass index, daily insulin dose or glycosylated hemoglobin levels. These data indicate that the prevalence of microalbuminuria in type 1 diabetes has probably been overestimated in previous studies due to the inclusion of patients with hypertension. Thus, microalbuminuria, rather than being a predictor of the development of diabetic renal disease, may indicate the presence of diabetic nephropathy with rising blood pressure levels. Further investigation is needed to clarify the relationship between microalbuminuria and coronary risk factors such as serum cholesterol and diastolic blood pressure levels.     

Cross-section study of pulmonary function in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

In this study, we attempted to establish the prevalence and nature of pulmonary dysfunction in a cross section of a diabetic population and the relationship of pulmonary dysfunction to diabetic factors and complications. Forty insulin-dependent diabetic patients, 15 to 60 yr of age, and 40 healthy reference subjects, matched for age, sex, and race, were studied. All subjects were lifelong nonsmokers and had no clinical evidence of past or present respiratory disease. Lung function was assessed from the flow-volume curve, single-breath nitrogen washout, static lung elastic recoil, and pulmonary diffusing capacity (DLCO/VA) and its components: membrane diffusing capacity (Dm/VA) and pulmonary capillary blood volume (Qc/VA). The diabetic patients had an increased value for Kst(L) and in Kst(L), the exponential shape constant of the pressure-volume curve compared with that of the reference subjects (Kst(L), 0.184 +/- 0.011 versus 0.135 +/- 0.005; p less than 0.005, mean +/- SEM). The DL/VA was lower in the diabetic subjects (4.62 = 0.12 versus 5.31 +/- 0.10 ml/min/mm Hg/L; p less than 0.001), and this was due to a lower Qc/VA (9.45 +/- 0.43 versus 11.75 +/- 0.35 ml/min; p less than 0.001). The Kst(L) and Qc/VA were correlated with the duration of diabetes. The In Kst(L) was negatively correlated with both DL/VA (r = -0.32, p less than 0.05) and Qc/VA (r = -0.36, p less than 0.05). There was no association between abnormal pulmonary function and the presence of other diabetic complications. It is concluded that there are mild, duration-related abnormalities of lung elastic recoil and pulmonary diffusing capacity and a reduction in pulmonary capillary blood volume in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.     

Clinical characteristic of elderly patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus]

The number of elderly patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is increasing because of the prolongation of life due to the improvement of diabetic control. For better management of elderly patients with IDDM, we investigated the clinical and genetic characteristic of older patients with IDDM in comparison with younger patients. The subjects studied consisted of 19 patients with IDDM treated at the Department of Geriatric Medicine, Osaka University Hospital. Among the 19 subjects, 7 patients (37%) were more than 50 years old, including 3 patients (16%) more than 65 years old. The clinical and genetic characteristics of these 7 patients (older patients group) were compared with those of 12 patients (younger patient group) whose age was less than 50 years old. The age at onset of IDDM was significantly higher in older patient group (46 +/- 13 years old; mean +/- SD) than in younger patient group (34 +/- 6 years old). There was no significant difference in the duration of IDDM between older and younger patients (13 +/- 6 and 12 +/- 8 years, respectively). There were no significant differences in daily insulin dose, glycemic control (fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c levels) and glycemic stability as measured by the standard deviation of 10 measured fasting plasma glucose levels between the two groups. The frequency of diabetic retinopathy and neuropathy in the older patients was slightly, but not significantly, higher than that in younger patients. The frequency of diabetic nephropathy was similar in both groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)