Silent Myocardial Infarction During Hypoglycemic Coma

Dr. Varun Vijay Mahajan, Vikas Dogra, Iesha Pargal, Navtej Singh, of Dept. of Medicine Gian Sagar Medical College Ramnagar District Patiala India Dept. of Pathology Government Medical College Jammu have reported a case of Silent Myocardial Infarction During Hypoglycemic Coma.

A 75-year-old female with a history of diabetes mellitus for 4 years on oral hypoglycemic agents OHA presented to the emergency of Gian Sagar Medical College Ramnagar with a history of the first episode of sudden loss of consciousness. She was noticed by her son as unconscious cold and clammy with profuse sweating. On arrival, casual blood glucose level was 40 mg dl. She was given a 25 dextrose solution by intravenous route and regained consciousness within minutes. Detailed history revealed intake of OHAs for diabetes. There was no history of chest pain either before or after this episode.

On examination, the pulse rate was 84 minute and regular in rhythm. A blood pressure of 130 80 mmHg was recorded. Chest cardiovascular system and abdomen examination were unremarkable. The patient was comatose at the time of admission. Bilateral planters were extensor pupils were normal and reacting to light. The neck was free.

Casual blood glucose level at the time of admission was 40 mg dl which rose to 250 mg dl after dextrose infusion. Renal function tests were normal. Routine examination of urine showed traces of albumin. Fundus examination showed grade 2 diabetic retinopathy. CT scan computed tomography scan head was normal. Routine ECG Figure 1 was done which revealed left axis deviation LAD and left bundle branch block LBBB. A troponin t-test was strongly positive and creatine phosphokinase isoenzyme MB CPK MB was 65 units. The previous record was seen and the previous ECGs were normal. So from LBBB positive troponin T and raised CPK MB a diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction new onset LBBB was made.

She was treated as a case of acute myocardial infarction and was thrombolysed with streptokinase within 5 hours from the time she was noticed by her son as unconscious. Anti-ischemic treatment along with a 5-day course of low molecular weight heparin was prescribed. She was discharged on day 7 of admission. Her hospital stay was uneventful.

Hypoglycemia is more likely to be associated with cardiac ischemia than hyperglycemia and normoglycemia. This association is particularly common in patients who have considerable swings in their blood glucose level.

1. A few cases of myocardial infarction associated with hypoglycemia have also been reported previously.


2. Some studies have revealed ECG changes during hypoglycemia which resolved after correction of blood sugar level.


3. But in our case, these changes did not resolve even after treatment with intravenous glucose i.e. after correction of hypoglycemia. The development of ischemia in the present case was not preceded by chest pain. It has been seen that autonomic neuropathy in diabetes mellitus leads to disturbed cardiac perception and thus may play a role in silent myocardial infarction.


4. Myocardial infarction tends to increase the blood glucose level because of increased catecholamine secretion and decreased sensitivity to insulin.


5. Therefore had it been a primary event in our patient symptomatic hypoglycemia would have been less likely. The history and rapid response of the patient to glucose infusion give a clear diagnosis of hypoglycemia. According to Libby et al. 1, there are many ways in which hypoglycemia affects the myocardium. Hypoglycemia is known to produce a sympathetic adrenal discharge which increases the heart rate ventricular afterload and the inotropic state of the myocardium. The resulting increase in myocardial oxygen consumption may precipitate ischemia and the infarction. It has been proposed that myocardial ischemia arises because of increased myocardial oxygen demand during a hypoglycemic episode. During hypoglycemia, the body reacts by the release of the counterregulatory hormones including epinephrine and norepinephrine. The released catecholamines by their chronotropic and inotropic effect on the cardiac musculature increase myocardial ischemia.


6. As either hypoglycemic episode or the myocardial infarction can be silent the occurrence of hypoglycemia with myocardial infarction is likely underreported. In view of the potential association between the two emergency physicians should not rely only upon clinical symptomatology. Emphasis should be on simple monitoring tests to detect the occurrence of these two clinically associated conditions.Hypoglycemia is a risk factor for cardiovascular complications in patients with diabetes. Myocardial ischemia and infarction are known to occur in the setting of hypoglycemia. In view of the potential association of the two diabetic patients with hypoglycemia should undergo routine electrocardiogram ECG.

References 1. Desouza C Salazar H Cheong B Murgo J Fonseca V. Association of Hypoglycemia and cardiac ischemia A study based on continuous monitoring. Diabetes Care 2003 26 1485 9. 2. Arora RR Meisheri YV Joshi VR. Myocardial infarction secondary to hypoglycemia. Case reports. Indian Heart J 1980 32 186 9. 3. Markel A Yasin K. Hypoglycemia induced ischaemic ECG changes. Presse Med 1994 23 78 9. 4. Pauli P Hartl L Marquardt C Stalmann H Strain F. Heartbeat and ischemia perception in diabetic autonomic neuropathy. Psychol Med 1991 21 413 21. 5. Oganow RG Aleksandrov AA Vinogradova IV. Sensitivity to insulin in acute myocardial infarct Kardiologiia 1977 17 89 94. 6. DeFronzo RA Christensen N. Stimulation of counterregulatory hormonal responses in diabetic man by fall in glucose concentration. Diabetes 1980 29 125 31.

For more details click on the link: doi: 10.4103/2230-8210.91210