[Effects of isometric exercise on left ventricular function assessed with polycardiography in patients with early...

15 patients with controlled type 1 diabetes lasting up to 24 months underwent the study. The control group consisted of 22 healthy men. Noninvasive examinations were carried out at rest and during a 3-minute isometric exercise of a load equal to 30% maximal effort. Rest systolic and diastolic blood pressures (SBP and DBP) were almost the same in both groups. Also exercise peak SBP and DBP did not significantly differ in examined groups. Rest PEP/LVET ratio were significantly lower in diabetics (means = 0.313 vs means = 0.348 in the control group; p less than 0.002). Peak isometric exercise PEP/LVET ratio significantly increased to 0.333 in diabetics, comparing with its rest value, whereas significantly decreased to 0.333 in the control group. Results indicate increased resting left ventricular contractility in patients with early, type 1 diabetes and impairment of a left ventricular adaptation for the isometric exercise in comparison with the control group.