Echocardiographic picture in diabetes mellitus

The results of echocardiographic examination of 23 diabetics are presented. Significantly increased left ventricular posterior wall thickness and mass and elevated ratio of wall thickness to chamber radius were found in the group of diabetic patients without coronary artery disease and hypertension. The interventricular septum thickness was significantly increased only in the diabetics with hypertension. The possible causes of these findings may be the presence of microangiopathy at the periphery of the coronary circulation or the presence of PAS-positive substances with resulting interstitial fibrosis.