Diabetic cardiomyopathy, causes and effects

Abstract

Diabetes is associated with increased incidence of heart failure even after controlling for coronary artery disease and hypertension. Thus, as diabetic cardiomyopathy has become an increasingly recognized entity among clinicians, a better understanding of its pathophysiology is necessary for early diagnosis and the development of treatment strategies for diabetes-associated cardiovascular dysfunction. We will review recent basic and clinical research into the manifestations and the pathophysiological mechanisms of diabetic cardiomyopathy. The discussion will be focused on the structural, functional and metabolic changes that occur in the myocardium in diabetes and how these changes may contribute to the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy in affected humans and relevant animal models. (CAD) or hypertension. It is important to note that in many patients, particularly those with type 2 diabetes, diabetes associated changes are amplified by the existence of these co-morbidities, which likely will augment the development of left ventricular hypertrophy, increase the susceptibility of the heart to ischemic injury and increase the overall likelihood of developing heart failure [2]. Several mechanisms have been implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic cardiomyopathy. Changes in myocardial structure, calcium signaling and metabolism are early defects that have been described mainly in animal models and may precede clinically manifest cardiac dysfunction. However, subtle functional changes can be detected if specifically looked for. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2010.