J. Naito et al., Transmural heterogeneity of myocardial integrated backscatter in diabetic patients without overt cardiac disease, DIABET RE C, 52(1), 2001, pp. 11-20
It is important to detect early changes in diabetic myocardium, because som
e diabetic patients suffer from diabetic cardiomyopathy, especially those w
ith poorer glycemic control or hypertension (HT). To clarify whether ultras
onic tissue characterization can noninvasively detect ultrastructural chang
es in diabetic myocardium, we analyzed the transmural heterogeneity in myoc
ardial integrated backscatter (THIB) in 20 diabetic patients and 16 normal
subjects. THIB was defined as the absolute value of difference of integrate
d backscatter between the endocardial and epicardial half of the myocardium
. THIB in diabetic patients was significantly greater than that in normal s
ubjects. In diabetic patients, there was a significant correlation between
glycosylated hemoglobin and THIB. and the greater THIB was shown in patient
s with HT compared with those without HT. Early changes in the myocardium,
related to increased interstitial collagen deposition or other occult cardi
omyopathic changes. may be detected on the basis of quantitative analysis o
f THIB in diabetic patients. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rig
hts reserved.