Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 20, 2026
In Vivo Quantitative Assessment of Myocardial Structure, Function, Perfusion and Viability Using Cardiac Micro-computed Tomography
Published on: February 16, 2016
Myocardial perfusion at rest in patients with Diabetes Mellitus Type 1 compared with healthy controls assessed with
Christina Byrne1, Tonny Jensen2, Henrik Øder Hjortkjær2
1Department of Cardiology, The Heart Center, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Insights
Asymptomatic patients with type 1 diabetes show higher resting myocardial perfusion compared to controls, independent of coronary atherosclerosis. This suggests functional changes in the heart
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Endocrinology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) increases ischemic heart disease (IHD) risk.
- The specific causes of IHD in T1DM patients, whether structural or functional, are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare myocardial perfusion and coronary atherosclerosis in asymptomatic T1DM patients versus healthy controls.
- To investigate the relationship between T1DM and early signs of heart disease.
Main Methods:
- 320-multidetector computed tomography angiography was used.
- Evaluated left ventricular (LV) myocardial perfusion at rest (MyoAD-ratio) and coronary artery atherosclerosis.
- Study included 57 asymptomatic T1DM patients and 114 controls.
Main Results:
- T1DM patients had higher coronary calcium scores but similar rates of significant coronary stenosis (>50%) compared to controls.
- LV myocardial perfusion at rest (MyoAD-ratio) was significantly higher (18%) in T1DM patients.
- This increased perfusion in T1DM remained significant even after accounting for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular risk factors.
Conclusions:
- Resting LV myocardial perfusion is elevated in T1DM patients.
- This functional abnormality is present independently of coronary atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular risk factors.
- Suggests early functional cardiac changes in T1DM.
Aim:
Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is associated with an increased risk of ischemic heart disease (IHD). The relative contribution of structural and functional abnormalities of the coronary circulation determining clinically manifested IHD remains unknown. The aim of this study was to assess potential differences in myocardial perfusion at rest and coronary atherosclerosis between asymptomatic T1DM patients and healthy controls.
Methods:
Left ventricular (LV) myocardial perfusion at rest measured as LV myocardial Attenuation Density/LV blood pool Attenuation Density (MyoAD-ratio) and coronary artery atherosclerosis were evaluated with 320-multidetector computed tomography angiography in 57 asymptomatic T1DM patients and 114 sex and age matched controls.
Results:
In both groups median age was 53 years (p5,p95: 42,67) and 59.6% were men. Median duration of diabetes in the T1DM group was 35 years (p5,p95: 17,49). Median coronary calcium score was higher in T1DM patients (51 vs. 2, p=0.037) compared with controls. However, a similar frequency of >50% stenosis in one or more coronary arteries was found in T1DM patients and controls (18% vs. 14%, p=0.49). LV myocardial perfusion at rest (MyoAD-ratio) was 18% higher in T1DM patients than controls (0.13 vs. 0.11, p<0.0001). This difference was noted throughout all the LV myocardial segments. In a multiple regression analysis including diabetes, sex, age, cardiovascular risk factors, heart rate, calcium score and coronary stenosis >50%, MyoAD-ratio remained significantly higher in T1DM patients (p=0.0001).
Conclusions:
LV myocardial perfusion at rest is higher in T1DM patients compared with controls independent of coronary atherosclerosis and cardiovascular risk factors.
More Related Videos
11:09High-Resolution Cardiac Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography for Small Animals
Published on: December 16, 2022
11:00Assessment of Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Calcium Reserve and Intracellular Diastolic Calcium Removal in Isolated Ventricular Cardiomyocytes
Published on: September 18, 2017
Related Concept Videos
01:28Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System V: CT
01:21Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System IV: CMRI