[Diabetes mellitus and myocardial infarct--new answers and questions]

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a risk factor for coronarosclerosis and for high mortality after myocardial infarction (MI). The causes of this high mortality are: more extensive and premature coronarosclerosis, more frequent left ventricular dysfunction, worse glycemic control with increased myocardial oxygen consumption, sulfanylurea drugs before and during MI. The results of a multicenter study (DIGAMI) and other studies suggest that a better control of diabetes using intravenous infusion of insulin and glucose, followed by long-term (3 months) intensive insulin therapy subcutaneously, improves long-term prognosis after MI. The relative reduction of mortality at the end of follow-up (3.4 years) is 28%. Thrombolysis reduces mainly mortality in hospital,s period and does not provoke retinal haemorrhages. Aspirin lowers the relative risk of mortality to 0.72. The beta-blockers are less used in diabetic patients because they probably alter diabetic control, lipid profile and "mask" the hypoglycemic symptoms, but the results of the beta-blocker's effect concerning reduction of mortality are convincing. ACE inhibitors and statins also reduce mortality in diabetics with MI, via beneficial influence of endothelial dysfunction. The ATMA study registers reduction of rhythmogenic mortality by 29% with amiodarone in high risk of arrhythmia after MI. The invasive methods of treatment in diabetes are accompanied by higher risk of reobstruction. The attempt to reduce this tendency is realizable with intracoronary stents, glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors and aggressive early treatment of all other risk factors.