Interní Med. 2012; 14(1): 18-20

Autonomous neuropathy and affliction of the myocardium

MUDr.Alena Adamíková, Ph.D., MUDr.Jiří Bakala

Diabetologické centrum, Interní klinika IPVZ, Krajská nemocnice T. Bati, a.s., Zlín

Oddělení nukleární medicíny, Krajská nemocnice T. Bati, a.s., Zlín

Cardiovascular autonomous neuropathy includes abnormalities in the control of cardiac frequency as well as in central and peripheral

vascular dynamics. It afflicts ca 17 % of type 1 diabetic patients and 22 % of type 2 diabetic patients, depending on the method used for

the examination. Diabetes mellitus leads to functional and structural changes of the myocardium, even independently of the presence

of ischemic disease and hypertension. The finding of systolic and diastolic dysfunctions of the left ventricle, myocardial dilatations and

hypertrophy without the presence of macroangiopathy is designated as diabetic cardiomyopathy. Among the causes are to be found

metabolic changes, myocardial fibrosis, microangiopathy as well as cardiovascular autonomous neuropathy, which lead to sympathetic

denervation and alteration of myocardial perfusion. The diagnosis of diabetic cardiomyopathy significantly affects the prognosis of

a diabetic patient. Echocardiography and nuclear medicine methods are used in the diagnostics.

Keywords: diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular autonomous neuropathy, diabetic cardiomyopathy, myocardial scintigraphy

Published: January 30, 2012  Show citation