[Physical working capacity and myocardial perfusion in patients with diabetes mellitus]

A study was made of the interrelationship of myocardial perfusion with physical working capacity in different types of DM (with the duration of disease from 4 to 8 years without clinical signs of circulatory insufficiency). Rated physical exercise testing in 12 patients with insulin dependent diabetes and 27 patients with noninsulin dependent diabetes as well as in 40 healthy subjects has shown a GTT decrease in diabetes mellitus irrespective of patient's age, sex and body mass to be more marked in noninsulin dependent type and to be closely related to disturbed oxygen supply of the heart and a lowered myocardial reserve. Bicycle ergometric testing combined with 201Tl scintigraphy in 20 patients has shown disorder of perfusion in all the patients irrespective of a diabetes type and duration of disease. Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus was characterized by stable perfusion defects resulting from metabolic derangements, and noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus was characterized by a decrease in the level of a maximum Tl uptake by the myocardium and transient perfusion defects of ischemic type.