Abstract

AIM: The early stage relationship of diabetic nephropathy and cardiomyopaty, which are the microangiopathic complications of diabetes mellitus, were invastigated in 80 non insulin dependent diabetic (NIDDM) patients and 40 matched healthy control subjects. MATERIAL and METHOD: Three groups were made for this study: Forty diabetic patients (NIDDM) who had microalbuminuria made the first group, forty diabetic patients (NIDDM) who did not have microalbuminuria the was second group and forty healthy volunteers formed the control group. Onset of diabetes age was the same in Group 1 and 2. Fractional shortening, ejection fraction, left ventricular end diastolic posterior wall thickness, the ratios of early and atrial late peaks (E/A ratio) were measured by 2-D and Doppler echocardiograpy. RESULTS: No differences were found in systolic function among the three groups. Left ventricular end diastolic posterior wall thickness was measured, it was significantly higher in Group 1 than in Group 2 and in Group 3, although all subjects had left ventricular end diastolic posterior wall thickness within the normal limits. Interventricular septum thickness was the same in all three groups. Unlike Group 2 and 3, there was left ventircular diastolic dysfunction in Group 1. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that diastolic dysfunction and microalbuminuria occured concurrently in the early stage of diabetes mellitus. Periodic echocardiographic controls in mi- croalbuminuric diabetic patients are recommended.