Systolic time intervals in diabetes mellitus.

Systolic time intervals (STI) were evaluated in 45 diabetics without any cardiac signs and symptoms in order to study the left ventricular function. The STI parameters revealed an impairment of left ventricular function, thus implying preclinical myocardial involvement. This left ventricular dysfunction was more marked in patients in poor metabolic control and in cases with evidence of microangiopathy in kidney and retina, thus favoring the view that the primary myocardial disease is the result of metabolic and vascular components. Significant improvement in STI parameters was observed when good metabolic control was achieved, thus indicating that strict metabolic control is indeed worthwhile.