The effect of the acute administration of tolbutamide on left ventricular function in insulin-dependent diabetics

Abstract

Despite better control of diabetic patients the morbidity and mortality from heart disease is significantly higher than in non-diabetics. While this may be a result of premature atherosclerosis or primary diabetic cardiopathy, the possibility of oral hypoglycemic agents having adverse cardiac effects must be considered. Using nuclear angiography the effect of the acute administration of 1 g tolbutamide on left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) in a group of 10 Type-1 diabetics was investigated. There was no difference in the response of the EF when compared to the response in 10 diabetic controls given i.v. saline. While i.v. tolbutamide may have adverse cardiac effects when administered to animals orin vitro this does not necessarily apply to human diabetics.