Angiographic characteristics of coronary artery disease in diabetic patients compared with matched non-diabetic subjects

The aim of this study was to assess the extent and the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) in diabetic patients. Angiographic findings were retr ospectively analysed in 50 diabetic and in 50 non-diabetic patients, matche d for age and sex, undergoing coronary angiography for evaluation of clinic ally CAD or silent ischaemia, Baseline characteristics did not show any inc rease of cardiovascular risk in diabetics compared to the non-diabetic grou p. Diabetic patients present less chest pain and more electric abnormalitie s, reflecting CAD specificity for diabetic patients. Angiograms of the coro nary tree were divided into 13 segments and two experienced angiographers h ave developed a methodic analysis of selected coronary segment stenosis, Th e number of significant coronary artery stenosis (greater than or equal to 50%) per patient was higher in diabetic than in non-diabetic subjects (5.06 +/-2.16 vs 2.40+/-1.97, p<0.05). Diabetics had also more left main CAD (7/5 0 vs 1/50,p<0.05). Though we did not find at any time statistical differenc e for multivessel, distal or diffuse CAD between the two groups, neverthele ss there are more diffuse and distal lesions of the diabetic coronary arter y trees. This debate is not closed, there is always controversy concerning whether the angiographic findings in diabetic or non-diabetic patients are different. But these results corroborate the hypothesis of a greater severi ty of angiographic proven CAD in diabetic than in non-diabetic patients, es pecially in the left main coronary artery. Diab. Nutr, Metab. 13: 134-141, 2000. (C) 2000, Editrice Kurtis.