DOC News May 1, 2007
Volume 4 Number 5 p. 14
© 2007 American Diabetes Association
Computed Tomography a Good Visual Tool for Coronary Arteries
Caregivers looking for non-invasive options to assess coronary arteries in
patients with diabetes should consider multislice computed tomography (MSCT),
according to new research. Diabetes increases the risk of coronary artery
disease, and MSCT allows clinicians to visualize the arteries for lesions with
"good sensitivity and specificity," researchers from
Eberhard-Karls University in Tuebingen, Germany, write in the Journal of
Diabetes and Its Complications. Until now, no head-to-head comparison of
MSCT in patients with diabetes and those without had been made.
A total of 116 patients were retrospectively examined and evaluated for
sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive
value as well as image quality. The cohort consisted of 22 patients with
diabetes compared with 94 patients without, and all were examined by MSCT and
invasive coronary angiography. Patients were excluded if they demonstrated
clinical evidence of renal failure, unstable angina pectoris, acute myocardial
infarction, known allergy to contrast media, increased radiation exposure in
the preceding 12 months, hyperthyroidism, epilepsy, liver dysfunction, or
advanced heart failure.
A prospective study with a larger patient group is needed to reevaluate the
results, the researchers conclude. Additionally, computed tomography has
limitations due to prolonged radiation exposure.
Burgstahler C, Beck T, Reimann A, et al.: Diagnostic
accuracy of multislice computed tomography for the detection of coronary
artery disease in diabetic patients. J Diabetes
Complications 21:69–74, 2007.[Medline]
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