Background: The aim of this study was to determine the value of Doppler tissue imaging (DTI) in detecting serial changes in left ventricular (LV) geometry and function after myocardial infarction (MI) in diabetic swine.
Methods: Thirteen minipigs with streptozotocin-induced diabetes for 1 month and 13 controls were subjected to occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Echocardiography and DTI were performed before, 30 minutes, 90 minutes, and 4 weeks after left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion.
Results: At baseline, LV end-diastolic volume and mass were greater in pigs with diabetes. After MI, LV ejection fractions and systolic mitral annular velocities were decreased and LV chambers dilated in both groups, which were exacerbated in animals with diabetes. At 30 minutes, 90 minutes, and 4 weeks after MI, strain rates were significantly lower in both infarct and noninfarct areas in the diabetic group than in controls.
Conclusions: DTI proved to be a useful tool in the serial assessment of subclinical LV dysfunction after MI in pigs with diabetes.