ABSTRACT
In order to assess the difference of autonomic dysfunction according to the absence or presence of nephropathy in patients with NIDDM, tests for cardiovascular autonomic function were performed in 23 NIDDM patients without nephropathy(M : F 14 : 9, mean age 50+/- 8) and in 21 patients with nephropathy (M : F 13 : 8, mean age 57+/-12). Tests for cardiovascular autonomic function included the R-R interval changes in response to respiration, Valsalva maneuver, and lying-standing, the blood pressure changes in response to lying-standing and sustained handgrip exercise. The prevalence of autonomic dysfunction was different between the patients without and with nephropathy(69.6% vs 85.7%). For patients without symptoms suggesting autonomic neuropathy, the significant differences were found in the change of R-R interval in response to respiration(22.16+/-21.30 vs 11.73+/-10.83; p=0.0390), in the change of lying-standing blood pressure(10.63+/-9.70 vs 22.00+/-13.67; p= 0.0044) and in the change of blood pressure during handgrip exercise(16.89+/-10.28 vs 8.40+/-7.24; p=0.0065). These results suggested that autonomic neuropathy may occur more frequently in patients with diabetic nephropathy than diabetes mellitus without neuropathy.