Changes in mitral annular morphology and function in young patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus-results from the three-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiographic MAGYAR-Path Study.

Background: Alterations in mitral annular size and function could be demonstrated in cardiomyopathies and ischaemic heart disease. The present study was designed to evaluate mitral annulus (MA) morphology and function in young type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) patients by three-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (3DSTE) and to compare their results to matched healthy controls.

Methods: The study comprised 18 patients with T1DM (mean age: 33.0±8.0 years). Their results were compared to that of 20 age- and gender-matched healthy controls (mean age: 37.8±10.9 years). Complete two-dimensional (2D) Doppler echocardiography and 3DSTE have been performed in all cases.

Results: No significant differences could be demonstrated in demographic and standard echocardiographic parameters between the groups. Significantly enlarged diastolic MA diameter (2.87±0.27 mm vs. 2.58±0.32 mm, P=0.01), MA diameter index 1.61±0.20 cm/m(2) vs. 1.30±0.39 cm/m(2), P=0.008, and MA area index (4.81±0.88 cm(2)/m(2) vs. 3.91±1.35 cm(2)/m(2), P=0.03) could be demonstrated in T1DM together with augmented MA fractional shortening (28.64±9.63% vs. 20.35±12.50%, P=0.05).

Conclusions: Early alterations in MA size and function could be demonstrated in young patients with T1DM by 3DSTE.