TYPE 2 DIABETES IS CONNECTED WITH HIGHER SOLUBLE ST2 LEVELS, EVEN HIGHER WHEN LEFT VENTRICULAR DIASTOLIC DYSFUNCTION IS PRESENT

Results: our study shows that the histopathological changes are similar in patients with congestive cardiomyopathy and those with heart failure secondary to ischemic heart disease, hypertensive heart disease and heart insufficiency. The changes were characterized by increased immunohistochemical reactions to desmin and vimentin versus normal heart, representing the final stage in an attempt to compensate impaired cardiac function due to replacement by fibrosis. Conclusion: The advantages are that the study was performed on human material exclusively, the large number of patients included and extensive cardiovascular pathology addressed and the disadvantages are that the pieces of biopsy were collected from deceased patients.