A case of silent myocardial infarction with hypoglycemic coma is described here. 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 potential association of the two, diabetic patients with hypoglycemia should undergo routine electrocardiogram (ECG).

A 75-year-old female with history of diabetes mellitus for 4 years on oral hypoglycemic agents (OHA) presented to the emergency of Gian Sagar Medical College Ramnagar with history of 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 ionotropic 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 release of the counter regulatory hormones including epinephrine and norepinephrine. The released catecholamines, by their chronotropic and ionotropic 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 under reported. 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.

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Conflict of Interest: None declared.