Stress myocardial scintigraphy and dobutamine echocardiography in the detection of coronary disease in asymptomatic patients with type 2 diabetes.

Objective: The aims of this prospective study were: (1) to compare stress thallium-201 single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and dobutamine echocardiography (DE) in the detection of silent myocardial ischemia (SMI) in asymptomatic high risk diabetic patients; (2) to analyse long-term outcome after intensive care of SMI in these patients.

Methods: SPECT was performed in 100 high risk diabetic patients and DE in the first 75 patients. Coronary angiography was realized in patients with SMI, with revascularization for suitable lesions.