[Attempt at early detection of coronary insufficiency in patients with diabetes mellitus].

The upper extremity cooling test has been used for early detection of coronary insufficiency in 149 patients with diabetes mellitus and hypertension aged 40 to 60 years and electrocardiograms were evaluated prior and after the test according to the Minnesota Code. Additionally, in 49 subjects of above group the positive effort test has been performed revealing positive result in 22%, 4% exhibited the positive cooling test. In the group of 100 persons with arterial hypertension in whom the effort test has not been performed the positive cooling test has been noted in 6%. In the control group of 50 patients with arterial hypertension without diabetes, as well as in 50 healthy subjects the electrocardiographic alterations after the cooling test have not been observed and in 22% the effort test was positive. In the all groups studied after the cooling test the significant increase of systolic and diastolic pressure, the acceleration of the heart rate and the increase of double product (systolic pressure + heart action) has been noted. It has been concluded that the cooling test presents simple and useful but not sensible method of early detection of coronary insufficiency in patients with diabetes mellitus or arterial hypertension in whom there are contraindications for standard effort test.