SummaryDiabetic patients with coronary artery disease are often asymptomatic, making appropriate care of such patients difficult. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of coronary lesions in asymptomatic diabetic patients. Coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography was performed in 120 consecutive diabetic patients (90 of whom were men, mean age 65, mean HbA1c 7.2%). Images from patients whose coronary artery calcium scores (CAC scores) were less than 400 were subjected to stenosis and plaque analysis. Significant stenosis was defined as coronary artery stenosis > 70%. High-risk plaque was defined as plaque having both a CT density < 30 Hounsfield Units (HU) and showing positive remodeling. Significant stenoses were identified in 30.5% of the patients. High-risk plaques were identified in 17.1% of the patients. Less than half of the high-risk plaques were obstructive plaques. There was a statistically significant association between significant stenosis and high-risk plaque by chi-square test (P = 0.022). We found significant stenosis even in patients whose CAC score = 0 at a rate of 5.0%. Using univariate logistic-regression analysis, we found that coronary risk factors associated with significant stenosis and high-risk plaque were dyslipidemia (P = 0.033) and current smoking (P = 0.030), respectively. We report for the first time, the prevalence of high-risk plaques in the arteries of patients with asymptomatic diabetes, as assessed by coronary CT angiography. (Int Heart J 2012; 53: 23-28) Key words: Diabetes mellitus, Coronary CT angiography, Asymptomatic diabetes, Vulnerable plaque A cute coronary syndrome is a major health concern in individuals with type 2 diabetes. The quantitative risk of myocardial infarction or cardiac death in diabetic patients is similar to that of patients with a history of myocardial infarction.1) Diabetic patients are also prone to sudden cardiac death.2) However, many diabetic patients are asymptomatic, or have atypical symptoms of coronary heart disease. The reason is thought to be related to autonomic denervation of the heart.3) Therefore, protection of these patients from cardiac events is difficult, and makes the identification of preclinical atherosclerosis even more pressing in diabetic patients.Acute coronary syndrome is mostly triggered by rupture of vulnerable plaque. Recent technological advances such as contrast-enhanced coronary CT angiography now allow the visualization of coronary artery plaques easily and less-invasively. Several studies have used these new techniques to characterize plaque features that are causally related to acute coronary syndrome.4-6) Therefore, it is quite possible that one can now identify vulnerable plaque on CT images.In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed coronary CT angiography findings of asymptomatic diabetic patients. We paid special attention to the analysis of plaque in terms of vulnerability. We believe our report is unique in assessing plaque vulnerability in asymptomatic diabetes. Methods Study des...

BackgroundRecent studies have suggested that microvascular and macrovascular diseases are associated with coronary events.ObjectiveTo test the hypothesis that asymptomatic coronary heart disease (CHD) may be present in many patients with diabetes with vascular complications.DesignFrom April 2009 to August 2010, the authors conducted a cross-sectional study to assess the prevalence of asymptomatic CHD among patients with type 2 diabetes with vascular complications at a national diabetes centre in Japan. Eligibility criteria included patients with type 2 diabetes with no known CHD and one or more of the following four criteria: (1) proliferative diabetic retinopathy or after photocoagulation; (2) estimated glomerular filtration rate <30 ml/min/1.73 m2 or an estimated glomerular filtration rate <45 ml/min/1.73 m2 plus albuminuria; (3) peripheral arterial disease; and (4) cerebrovascular disease. Each patient underwent a stress single-photon emission computed tomography; patients with myocardial perfusion abnormalities then underwent coronary angiography.ResultsA total of 1008 patients with type 2 diabetes were screened, and 122 eligible patients consented to participate. Stress single-photon emission computed tomography revealed myocardial perfusion abnormalities in 96 (79%) patients. Of the 112 patients who completed the study protocol, 59 (53%) had asymptomatic CHD with ≥50% diameter stenosis. Additionally, 35 (31%) patients had multivessel disease or left main disease, and 42 (38%) had a coronary artery with ≥75% diameter stenosis. In the multivariate logistic-regression analysis to identify coronary risk factors associated with asymptomatic CHD, the only significant predictor was male sex (OR 6.18; 95% CI 2.30 to 16.64; p<0.001).ConclusionsAsymptomatic CHD with ≥50% diameter stenosis and myocardial perfusion abnormalities was detected in more than half of the patients with type 2 diabetes with vascular complications.

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An 86-year-old woman was admitted to hospital with a head injury secondary to an episode of syncope associated with incontinence. Electrocardiography showed complete atrioventricular block, giant negative T waves in the precordial leads, and QT interval prolongation. Emergency coronary angiography showed no significant coronary stenosis, while left ventriculography demonstrated midventricular ballooning. Despite temporary transvenous pacing, her complete atrioventricular block persisted, but worsening of heart failure did not occur. Although left ventricular wall motion improved, complete atrioventricular block remained, so a pacemaker was implanted on day 18 after admission. There have been no previous reports of complete atrioventricular block associated with midventricular ballooning. This case demonstrates that complete atrioventricular block may persist after improvement of left ventricular wall motion in patients with midventricular ballooning and implantation of a pacemaker may be needed.