January - March 2011, Volume 7, Issue 1

Benedek T, Bucur O, Pascanu I, Benedek I

Analysis of Coronary Plaque Morphology by 64-Multislice Computed Tomography Coronary Angiography and Calcium Scoring in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Acta Endo (Buc) 2011, 7 (1): 59-68
doi: 10.4183/aeb.2011.59

Background. Early detection of coronary plaques in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) could play a major role in improving the evolution of these patients, targeting a therapeutic intervention in early stages when the chances to reduce the progression of the disease are higher. Aim of the study was to evaluate the presence of coronary lesions and analyze the plaque morphology in patients with type 2 DM using multislice 64 computed tomography coronary angiography (MSCT), and to assess the cardiovascular risk expressed by calcium scoring (CS) in these patients. Methods. The study included 37 patients with type 2 DM. Mean age was 67.38 years (±19.62). In all cases MSCT was performed, CS was calculated and morphology of coronary plaques was analysed. Results. Coronary artery disease was present in 86.48% cases. CS was <100 in 6 patients (16.2%), between 100 and 400 in 7 patients (18.9%) and >400 in 24 cases (64.8%). Coronary plaques were classified as non-calcified in 142 segments, mixed in 78 segments and calcified in 114 segments. In 40.12% of lesions the plaques were nonobstructive, in 44.91% obstructive, and in 14.91% severely obstructive. Conclusions. In patients with type II DM there is a high incidence of coronary lesions and vascular calcification, which could represent an indicator of the severity of coronary artery disease even in asymptomatic diabetic patients. CS calculated with MSCT is increased in these patients, representing a marker of high cardiovascular risk.

Keywords: calcium scoring, coronary plaques, diabetes, cardio CT

Correspondence: Theodora Benedek, MD, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Targu-Mures - Clinic of Cardiology, Gheorghe Marinescu street no 50, Targu-Mures 4300, Romania, Tel: +40722560549, Fax: +40265211595, email: hintea_teodora@yahoo.com