Cardiovascular sequelae of endotoxin shock in diabetic dogs

Diabetic patients exhibit a higher incidence of post-surgical sepsis, as well as a higher rate of mortality from sepsis, than their non-diabetic counterparts. This may be a result of cardiovascular deterioration associated with diabetes mellitus. This study was designed to characterize the cardiovascular sequelae associated with endotoxin shock in a canine model of diabetes. Diabetes was induced with alloxan (50 mg/kg) and streptozotocin (30 mg/kg) in dogs weighing 19-25 kg. Thirty days later, anaesthetized dogs were instrumented to obtain blood pressures, blood samples, left ventricular chamber diameter, circumflex arterial blood flow, and aortic blood flow. Metabolic parameters were calculated according to the Fick principle, and myocardial inotropic state assessed with the end-systolic pressure-diameter relationship. After stable baseline measurements, Escherichia coli endotoxin (1 mg/kg) was infused over 1 h, and measurements were obtained every 30 min. After endotoxin administration diabetic dogs became more hypotensive than the non-diabetic dogs. Cardiac performance parameters were also depressed to a greater degree. These changes could be attributed to depressions in vascular resistance and myocardial inotropic state in diabetic dogs. Cardiac dysfunction occurred in association with a relative decrease in the supply to demand ratio for oxygen in the diabetic dogs, suggesting functional ischemia. Data indicating a decrease in pre-load and vascular resistance in the diabetic group suggest a greater degree of vascular collapse, vascular pooling, or extravasation of fluid than occurred in the non-diabetic group. These data support the hypothesis that the cardiovascular system of diabetic subjects cannot tolerate a septic insult as well as their non-diabetic counterparts.