Relationship between autonomic neuropathy and hypertension-are we underestimating the problem?

• Published in: Diabetic medicine 2008-07, Vol.25 (7), p.863-866
• Main Authors: Istenes, I., Keresztes, K., Hermányi, Z., Putz, Z., Vargha, P., Gandhi, R., Tesfaye, S., Kempler, P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy; Case-Control Studies; Cross-Sectional Studies; diabetes mellitus; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - complications; Diabetes. Impaired glucose tolerance; Diabetic Angiopathies - complications; Diabetic Neuropathies - complications; Endocrine pancreas. Apud cells (diseases); Endocrinopathies; Etiopathogenesis. Screening. Investigations. Target tissue resistance; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Heart Diseases - complications; Humans; hypertension; Hypertension - complications; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Vertebrates: endocrinology
• ISSN: 0742-3071; 1464-5491
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1464-5491.2008.02458.x

Background  Cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality in diabetes and the risk is even greater in those with hypertension. Aims  The aim of our study was to investigate the relationship between CAN and 24‐h blood pressure profile in normoalbuminuric patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods  Seventy patients with Type 2 diabetes (31 without CAN, 39 with CAN), who had no history of hypertension, and 29 healthy volunteers underwent five standard cardiovascular reflex tests to assess autonomic function and 24‐h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Results  Twenty‐four‐hour mean systolic blood pressure, blood pressure load and hyperbaric impact values were significantly higher in diabetic patients with CAN compared with control subjects and diabetic patients without CAN (P  20%, P