Evaluation of left ventricular myocardial function in coronary atherosclerosis patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus by speckle tracking echocardiography

Objective: To evaluate the left ventricular (LV) myocardial function in coronary atherosclerosis patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D STE).

Methods: A total of 60 patients with a diagnosis of coronary atherosclerosis (<50%) were divided into DM and non-DM groups (n = 30 each). And another 30 cases were selected as normal control group. LV regional longitudinal, circumferential and radial peak systolic strain (ε) were measured respectively.

Results: EF showed no difference among 3 groups. However the peak systolic longitudinal strain (ε) in LV basal segments, middle segments and apical segments were significantly lower in DM group than those in non-DM and control groups (P < 0.05). The peak systolic circumferential and radial strain parameters showed no significant difference among 3 groups.

Conclusions: The systolic longitudinal myocardial function of LV become compromised before reduced LV global systolic function in coronary atherosclerosis patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.