Longitudinal left myocardial function in patients with latent autoimmune diabetes in adults quantitatively assessed by strain rate imaging

Objective To discuss the clinical value of strain rate imaging in quantitatively evaluating segmental myocardial function of left ventricle in latent autoimmune diabetes in adult(LADA).Methods Thirty LADA without complication(LADA group),30 LADA patients with hypertension and normal geometric left ventricle(LADA+NLVH group)and 30 healthy people(control group)were enrolled.All patients had normal ejection fraction,normal fractional shortening and no cardiac symptoms.The strain rate in systolic,early and later diastolic periods were obtained from 3 consecutive heartbeats in 16 segments respectively.The parameters were quantitatively analyzed between the three groups.Results Compared with the control group,all of the measured parameter of LADA and LADA+NLVH were significantly lower(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).Although the mean strain rate in early and later diastolic periods decreased significantly in LADA+NLVH group than in LADA group(P＜0.05),there was no significant difference in the mean systolic strain rate between the two groups (P＞0.05).Conclusions Strain rate imaging provides a sensitive and accurate tool to assess the left ventricular myocardial performance in patients with LADA. Key words: Echocardiography; Diabetes mellitus,type I; Ventricular function,left; Strain rate imaging