OBJECTIVETo assess the value of pulsed Doppler tissue imaging (PW-DTI) in evaluating the left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM).

METHODSSeventy-seven type 2 diabetic patients and 43 healthy volunteers underwent PW-DTI and mitral inflow pulsed wave Doppler (MPWD). Six positions of the mitral annulus were measured by PW-DTI for early diastolic velocity (Em), end diastolic velocity (Am), Em/Am ratio. Early mitral inflow velocity (E), end mitral inflow velocity (A), left ventricular isovolumetric relaxation (IVRT) and E/A ratio were measured by MPWD.

RESULTSIn the diabetic patients, Em, Em/Am and E/A ratios were significantly decreased and Am and A increased with prolonged IVRT. The two examination modalities showed a significant correlation between Em/Am and E/A. The detection rate of LVDD in the diabetic group was 94.81% by PW-DTI and 79.22% by MPWD.

CONCLUSIONPW-DTI and MPWD show a significant correlation in assessment of the left ventricular filling, but the former displays better performance in sensitive and accurate diastolic function evaluation and provides early evidence for of diabetic cardiomyopathy of due to its potent ability in differentiation of false-normal presentations.