Key role of postchallenge hyperglycemia for the presence and extent of coronary atherosclerosis: an angiographic study.
BACKGROUND
The associations between impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and postchallenge diabetes with the presence and extent of angiographically characterized coronary atherosclerosis are unclear.


METHODS
We enrolled 1040 consecutive Caucasian patients undergoing coronary angiography for the evaluation of coronary artery disease (CAD). An oral 75-g glucose tolerance test was performed in patients without previously diagnosed diabetes.


RESULTS
From our patients, 394 had normal glucose tolerance (NGT), 190 impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), 90 isolated postchallenge diabetes (postchallenge glucose >or=200 mg/dl), and 366 type 2 diabetes previously established or newly diagnosed on the basis of fasting glucose (conventional diabetes). Coronary atherosclerosis was more frequent in patients with IGT, isolated postchallenge diabetes, or conventional diabetes when compared to NGT subjects (87.9, 95.6, 89.1 versus 80.7%; p=0.030, 0.001, 0.043, respectively). The prevalence of significant coronary stenoses >or=50%, compared to NGT subjects (57.4%), was similar in IGT patients (59.5%; p=0.628), but significantly higher in patients with isolated postchallenge diabetes (77.8%; p=0.001) or conventional diabetes (68.0%; p=0.002). Also the number of significant stenoses compared to NGT subjects was similar in IGT patients, but significantly higher in those with isolated postchallenge or conventional diabetes. These results were confirmed after multivariate adjustment.


CONCLUSIONS
Abnormal glucose tolerance is strongly and independently associated with angiographically characterized coronary atherosclerosis. In IGT, non-significant coronary atherosclerosis is more frequent than in NGT; the prevalence and number of significant stenoses increases when postchallenge diabetes evolves.
Saely
Christoph H
CH
Vorarlberg Institute for Vascular Investigation and Treatment, Feldkirch, Austria.
Drexel
Heinz
H
Sourij
Harald
H
Aczel
Stefan
S
Jahnel
Heidrun
H
Zweiker
Robert
R
Langer
Peter
P
Marte
Thomas
T
Hoefle
Guenter
G
Benzer
Werner
W
Wascher
Thomas C
TC
D000368:Aged; D000792:Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D005947:Glucose