[Characteristics of erythrocytes and hemoglobin in patients with ischemic heart disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus].

AIM

To study characteristics of erythrocytes and hemoglobin in patients with ischemic heart disease in the presence or absence of concomitant type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) with consideration of clinical symptoms and selective coronaroangiographic data.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

287 patients with various forms of ischemic heart disease (IHD) were divided into two groups: 226 non-diabetic patients (group 1) and 61 type 2 diabetic patients (group 2). The following blood parameters were studied: Hb, HCT, red cell count, MCV, MCH, MCHC. Electrocardiography, echocardiography, doppler-echocardiography, circadian Holter ECG monitoring, bicycle exercise test were made in all the patients, coronaroangiography--in 174 patients.

RESULTS

Group 2 patients showed significantly lower indices of the red blood. Anemia was detected in 38.05 and 47.62% patients of groups 1 and 2. A highly significant correlation was found in both groups between Hb concentration and severity of IHD manifestations (chi-square 49.06, p < 0.01 and 18.94, p < 0.01 in group 1 and 2, respectively). The same correlation was established in group 1 between angina pectoris severity and HCT (chi-square 37.912, p < 0.01). ECG registered myocardial ischemia much more often in group 2 than in group 1 (52.46 versus 42.48%, respectively). Group 2 patients with depression of the ST segment had lower red cell level. Diabetic and anemic patients had ischemic changes on ECG more frequently, their exercise tolerance was less, ectopic activity high. Coronary angiography demonstrated more severe affection of the coronary circulation in diabetics. Hb level and the latter also correlated (chi-square 24.379, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Hemoglobin and red cells proved essential in regulation of coronary blood flow and saturation of the myocardium with oxygen.