TUESDAY, June 18, 2002 (HealthDayNews) -- People with diabetes who show no symptoms of heart disease during stress tests may still be susceptible to a heart condition that can only be detected by a sophisticated imaging technique, Swiss researchers say.
Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) can catch "silent" myocardial ischemia, a deficiency of blood supply to the heart muscle caused by an obstruction or constriction of the coronary arteries. It's a leading cause of death among people with diabetes, and can progress without warning to irreversible cardiac damage.
In a study presented yesterday at the Society of Nuclear Medicine's annual meeting in Los Angeles, the Swiss researchers say SPECT MPI offers a better way to detect myocardial ischemia in people with diabetes.
The study included 189 people with diabetes who were analyzed for stress-induced ischemia. They were divided into two groups -- those who'd previously experienced angina (chest pain) and those who had not.
To induce stress, participants rode an exercise bicycle. Those unable to exercise were given dipyridamole, a drug used in medical tests to check blood flow to the heart. The researchers then compared the ability of electrocardiogram (ECG) and SPECT MPI to detect stress-induced ischemic defects.
The SPECT MPI detected abnormalities in 56 percent of the study participants, compared to just 14 percent using the ECG.
They add that people with diabetes need to be aware that, even if they don't have chest pains during stress tests, they may still be at risk for cardiovascular disease. SPECT MPI may be able to detect that risk, the researchers say.
More information
To learn more about the link between diabetes and silent myocardial ischemia, visit the American Academy of Family Physicians.
