Aims
To examine the effect of pioglitazone on epicardial (EAT) and paracardial adipose tissue (PAT) and measures of diastolic function and insulin sensitivity in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
Methods
Twelve patients with T2DM without clinically manifest cardiovascular disease and 12 subjects with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging to quantitate EAT and PAT and diastolic function before and after pioglitazone treatment for 24 weeks. Whole‐body insulin sensitivity was measured with a euglycaemic insulin clamp and the Matsuda Index (oral glucose tolerance test).
Results
Pioglitazone reduced glycated haemoglobin by 0.9% (P < 0.05), increased HDL cholesterol by 7% (P < 0.05), reduced triacylglycerol by 42% (P < 0.01) and increased whole‐body insulin‐stimulated glucose uptake by 71% (P < 0.01) and Matsuda Index by 100% (P < 0.01). In patients with T2DM, EAT (P < 0.01) and PAT (P < 0.01) areas were greater compared with subjects with NGT, and decreased by 9% (P = 0.03) and 9% (P = 0.09), respectively, after pioglitazone treatment. Transmitral E/A flow rate and peak left ventricular flow rate (PLVFR) were reduced in T2DM versus NGT (P < 0.01) and increased following pioglitazone treatment (P < 0.01‐0.05). At baseline normalized PLVFR inversely correlated with EAT (r = −0.45, P = 0.03) but not PAT (r = −0.29, P = 0.16). E/A was significantly and inversely correlated with EAT (r = −0.55, P = 0.006) and PAT (r = −0.40, P = 0.05). EAT and PAT were inversely correlated with whole‐body insulin‐stimulated glucose uptake (r = −0.68, P < 0.001) and with Matsuda Index (r = 0.99, P < 0.002).
Conclusion
Pioglitazone reduced EAT and PAT areas and improved left ventricular (LV) diastolic function in T2DM. EAT and PAT are inversely correlated (PAT less strongly) with LV diastolic function and both EAT and PAT are inversely correlated with measures of insulin sensitivity.
Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are important consequences of adverse perinatal conditions such as fetal hypoxia and maternal malnutrition. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) can produce a wealth of physiological information related to the development of the heart. This review outlines the current state of CMR technologies and describes the physiological biomarkers that can be measured. These phenotypes include impaired ventricular and atrial function, maladaptive ventricular remodeling, and the proliferation of myocardial steatosis and fibrosis. The discussion outlines the applications of CMR to understanding the developmental pathways leading to impaired cardiac function. The use of CMR, both in animal models of developmental programming and in human studies, is described. Specific examples are given in a baboon model of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). CMR offers great potential as a tool for understanding the sequence of dysfunctional adaptations of developmental origin that can affect the human cardiovascular system.
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