Abstract

Objective: We used speckle tracking echocardiography to study the early changes in left ventricular (LV) torsion in young patients with uncomplicated type 1 diabetes (T1DM) and used stress magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assess its interrelationships with coronary microangiopathy.

Research design and methods: 33 asymptomatic subjects with T1DM and 32 age-matched healthy controls (HC) were recruited. All subjects underwent echocardiogram and stress MRI was performed in 30 subjects (8 HC) to compute myocardial perfusion reserve index (MPRI).

Results: A significant increase in LV torsion (2±0.7 °/cm vs 1.4±0.7 °/cm, P<0.05) was identified in longer term and retinopathy (+) T1DM subjects (1.9±0.7 °/cm vs 1.4±0.7 °/cm, P<0.05) as compared to HC. The MPRI was independently associated with increased LV torsion.

Conclusions: We demonstrate that LV torsion is increased in young patients with uncomplicated T1DM and coronary microvascular disease may play a key pathophysiological role in the development of increased LV torsion.