V Spallone

University of Rome Tor Vergata, Roma, Latium, Italy

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Publications (30)85.46 Total impact

  • Article: Validation of DN4 as a screening tool for neuropathic pain in painful diabetic polyneuropathy.
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    ABSTRACT: DN4 (Douleur Neuropathique en 4 Questions) is a screening tool for neuropathic pain consisting of interview questions (DN4-interview) and physical tests. It has not formally been validated in diabetes. We evaluated the validity and diagnostic accuracy of DN4 and DN4-interview in identifying neuropathic pain of painful diabetic polyneuropathy. MethodS: In 158 patients with diabetes, the presence of diabetic polyneuropathy and neuropathic pain was assessed using scoring system for symptoms and signs, quantitative sensory testing, nerve conduction studies, pain history, numerical rating scale, and Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire. Painful diabetic polyneuropathy was defined as the presence of diabetic polyneuropathy plus chronic neuropathic pain in the same area as neuropathic deficits. A blinded investigator performed DN4. The DN4 score was significantly related to all the neurological and electrophysiological measurements and to Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (ρ = 0.58, P < 0.0001). DN4 and DN4-interview scores showed a high diagnostic accuracy for painful diabetic polyneuropathy with areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.94 and 0.93, respectively. At the cut-off of 4, DN4 displayed sensitivity of 80%, specificity of 92%, positive predictive value (PPV) of 82%, negative predictive value (NPV) of 91%, and likelihood ratio for a positive result (LR(+) ) of 9.6. At the cut-off of 3, DN4-interview showed sensitivity and specificity of 84%, PPV of 71%, NPV of 92%, and LR(+) of 5.3. This is the first validation study of DN4 for painful diabetic polyneuropathy, which supports its usefulness as both a screening tool for neuropathic pain in diabetes and a reliable component of the diagnostic work up for painful diabetic polyneuropathy.
    Diabetic Medicine 10/2011; 29(5):578-85. · 2.90 Impact Factor
  • Article: Recommendations for the use of cardiovascular tests in diagnosing diabetic autonomic neuropathy.
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    ABSTRACT: Despite its prevalence, clinical and prognostic impact, diabetic autonomic neuropathy, is widely under-diagnosed. The need for training and expertise to perform the cardiovascular tests (usually the task of diabetologists) is one possible reason. The availability of computer-assisted systems has allowed a wider diffusion of testing, but has also highlighted the need for an adequate knowledge of physiopathological backgrounds for their correct application and interpretation. The recommendations presented here were developed by the Neuropathy Study Group of the Italian Society of Diabetology and then endorsed by the Italian Association for the Study of Neurovegetative System, to promote the widespread adoption of good clinical practice in diabetic cardiovascular autonomic testing by outlining main evidence-based aspects, i.e. which tests, how to perform them, adequate interpretation of the results and their diagnostic use, confounding conditions that can impact on tests reliability. Therefore, these recommendations include the essential aspects of the physiopathological substrate of the tests, the controversial points in their analysis, their diagnostic characteristics, as well as safety. Detailed information is given on the physiological (age, weight, body position, resting heart rate and blood pressure, respiratory pattern, exercise, meals, acute blood glucose changes) and pathophysiological confounding factors, with emphasis on the effects of drugs. Instructions on how to perform the tests and interpret their results are also considered together with indications of candidate patients and periodicity of testing. A patient instruction sheet on why and how to perform the tests is included. Finally, the specific requirements for computerized systems to perform and evaluate cardiovascular tests are provided.
    Nutrition, metabolism, and cardiovascular diseases: NMCD 01/2011; 21(1):69-78. · 3.52 Impact Factor
  • Article: Neuropad as a diagnostic tool for diabetic autonomic and sensorimotor neuropathy.
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    ABSTRACT: The aim of the present study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of the Neuropad sudomotor test for diabetic cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) and diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN), the latter assessed using a multi-level diagnostic approach. In 51 diabetic patients, CAN, symptoms and signs of DPN, vibration perception threshold (VPT), cold (CTT) and warm thermal perception thresholds (WTT) were measured. Neuropad response was determined as normal (complete colour change) or abnormal (absent or incomplete colour change). The time until the complete colour change (CCC time) was recorded. CCC time showed significant correlations with all the neurological parameters, the strongest of which were with Valsalva ratio (rho = -0.64, P < 0.0001), symptoms of DPN (rho = 0.66, P < 0.0001), postural hypotension (rho = 0.54, P = 0.0001) and CTT (rho = -0.54, P = 0.0001). CCC time showed moderate diagnostic accuracy for both CAN and DPN: the areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were 0.71 and 0.76, respectively. The diagnostic characteristics of three cut-off values of CCC time, identified by ROC analysis (i.e. 10, 15 and 18 min), were analysed. Compared with 10 min, the 15-min cut-off value provided better specificity (from 27% to 52% and from 31% to 62% for CAN and DPN, respectively) and a better likelihood ratio for negative result (from 0.67 to 0.34 and from 0.58 to 0.33) without lowering sensitivity (from 82% to 82% and from 85% to 80%). Neuropad is a reliable diagnostic tool for both CAN and DPN, albeit of only moderate accuracy. Extending the observation period to 15 min provides greater diagnostic usefulness.
    Diabetic Medicine 08/2009; 26(7):686-92. · 2.90 Impact Factor
  • Article: Usefulness of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in predicting the presence of autonomic neuropathy in type I diabetic patients.
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    ABSTRACT: This study investigated whether nondipping (defined as a day-night change in blood pressure (BP) <or=0%) could be assumed as a diagnostic index for autonomic neuropathy, and assessed its accuracy in discriminating between type I diabetic patients with and without autonomic neuropathy. In 87 type I diabetic patients with normal renal function (age 36+/-11, duration 17+/-9 years, serum creatinine 67.2+/-15.9 micromol/l), four cardiovascular tests and 24-h BP monitoring were performed, and the percentage day-night change (Delta) in systolic (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) was calculated. Sixteen patients had DeltaSBP and/or DeltaDBP <or=0%. In a multiple logistic regression with adjustment for sex, age, and body mass index, the odds ratio for having autonomic neuropathy was seven times higher in patients with DeltaSBP <or=0% as opposed to those without (odds ratio 6.97, CI 1.4-34.9, P=0.018). Using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis, DeltaBP showed an acceptable accuracy in discriminating between patients with and without autonomic neuropathy (area under the ROC curve 0.69+/-0.06 and 0.72+/-0.05 for DeltaSBP and DeltaDBP, respectively). Adequate cutoff values were 0% for DeltaSBP (sensitivity, 26%; specificity, 95%; positive predictive value, 87%) and 5% for DeltaDBP (sensitivity, 26%; specificity, 92%; positive predictive value, 81%). In type I diabetic patients with normal renal function, a value of DeltaSBP <or=0% identifies the presence of autonomic neuropathy with a very high chance. Nondipping at the cutoff proposed could be considered an adjunctive marker of autonomic neuropathy provided with a high specificity and low sensitivity.
    Journal of Human Hypertension 06/2007; 21(5):381-6. · 2.80 Impact Factor
  • Article: Validation of the nerve axon reflex for the assessment of small nerve fibre dysfunction.
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    ABSTRACT: To validate nerve-axon reflex-related vasodilatation as an objective method to evaluate C-nociceptive fibre function by comparing it with the standard diagnostic criteria. Neuropathy was evaluated in 41 patients with diabetes (26 men and 15 women) without peripheral vascular disease by assessing the Neuropathy Symptom Score, the Neuropathy Disability Score (NDS), the vibration perception threshold (VPT), the heat detection threshold (HDT), nerve conduction parameters and standard cardiovascular tests. The neurovascular response to 1% acetylcholine (Ach) iontophoresis was measured at the forearm and at both feet by laser flowmetry. An age-matched and sex-matched control group of 10 healthy people was also included. Significant correlations were observed between the neurovascular response at the foot and HDT (r(s) = -0.658; p<0.0001), NDS (r(s) = -0.665; p<0.0001), VPT (r(s) = -0.548; p = 0.0005), tibial nerve conduction velocity (r(s) = 0.631; p = 0.0002), sural nerve amplitude (r(s) = 0.581; p = 0.0002) and autonomic function tests. According to the NDS, in patients with diabetes who had mild, moderate or severe neuropathy, a significantly lower neurovascular response was seen at the foot than in patients without neuropathy and controls. A neurovascular response <50% was found to be highly sensitive (90%), with a good specificity (74%), in identifying patients with diabetic neuropathy. Small-fibre dysfunction can be diagnosed reliably with neurovascular response assessment. This response is already reduced in the early stages of peripheral neuropathy, supporting the hypothesis that small-fibre impairment is an early event in the natural history of diabetic neuropathy.
    Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry 09/2006; 77(8):927-32. · 4.87 Impact Factor
  • Article: Does autonomic neuropathy play a role in erythropoietin regulation in non-proteinuric Type 2 diabetic patients?
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    ABSTRACT: Erythropoietin (EPO)-deficient anaemia has been described in Type 1 diabetic patients with both severe autonomic neuropathy (AN) and proteinuria. This study was aimed at distinguishing between the effects of AN and nephropathy on haemoglobin and EPO levels in Type 2 diabetic patients at an early stage of diabetic nephropathy. In 64 Type 2 diabetic patients (age 52 +/- 10 years, duration 10 +/- 9 years) without overt nephropathy and other causes of anaemia or EPO deficit, we assessed cardiovascular tests of AN, 24-h blood pressure (BP) monitoring, urinary albumin excretion rate (UAE), a full blood count, and serum EPO. Although the Type 2 diabetic patients with AN did not show differences in haemoglobin and EPO when compared with patients without AN, the presence of haemoglobin < 13 g/dl was associated with the presence of AN (chi(2)= 3.9, P < 0.05) and of postural hypotension (chi(2)= 7.8, P < 0.05). In a multiple regression analysis including as independent variables gender, body mass index, duration of diabetes, smoking, creatinine, 24-h UAE, 24-h diastolic BP, ferritin, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and autonomic score, we found that the only variables independently related to haematocrit were autonomic score, ferritin and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Finally, the physiological inverse relationship between EPO and haemoglobin present in a control group of 42 non-diabetic non-anaemic subjects was completely lost in Type 2 diabetic patients. The slopes of the regression lines between EPO and haemoglobin of the control subjects and the Type 2 diabetic patients were significantly different (t = 14.4, P < 0.0001). This study documents an early abnormality of EPO regulation in Type 2 diabetes before clinical nephropathy and points to a contributory role of AN in EPO dysregulation.
    Diabetic Medicine 12/2004; 21(11):1174-80. · 2.90 Impact Factor
  • Article: Glycaemic control and gastric emptying.
    V Spallone
    Diabetes, nutrition & metabolism 03/2004; 17(1):47-55.
  • Article: Factors determining the 24-h blood pressure profile in normotensive patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
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    ABSTRACT: Some controversy still exists about factors involved in the abnormal circadian pattern of blood pressure (BP) in diabetes, while prognostic value of non-dipping condition is being increasingly recognised. This study was aimed at evaluating the relative influence of autonomic neuropathy (AN) and albumin excretion on 24-h BP profile in type 1 and type 2 diabetes. We measured AN cardiovascular tests, 24-h ambulatory BP, and urinary albumin excretion rate (UAE) in 47 type 1 and 34 type 2 normotensive non-proteinuric diabetic patients. In type 1 diabetic patients day-night differences (Delta) in systolic and diastolic BP were lower in those with AN than in those without (3 +/- 9 vs 10 +/- 6%, P < 0.01, and 8 +/- 9 vs 16 +/- 6%, P < 0.001), and in univariate regression analysis they were inversely related to both autonomic score, index of degree of AN (r = -0.61, P < 0.001 and r = -0.65, P < 0.001), and to 24-h UAE (r = -0.39, P < 0.01 and r = -0.46, P < 0.001). In type 1 diabetic patients AN was also associated with lower nocturnal decrease in UAE (patients with AN vs without AN: -37 +/- 214 vs 49 +/- 37%, P < 0.05), and with a stronger relationship between simultaneous 24-h UAE and 24-h BP (for systolic BP patients with AN vs without AN: r = 0.62, P < 0.01 vs r = 0.28, NS). In type 2 diabetic patients Delta systolic BP was reduced in patients with AN compared to those without (4 +/- 7 vs 10 +/- 4%, P < 0.01), and it was related only to autonomic score (r = -0.42, P < 0.01). Using a stepwise regression analysis, in type 1 diabetic patients autonomic score was the variable of primary importance for Delta BP, while in type 2 diabetic patients it was the unique determinant not only of Delta systolic BP but also of 24-h systolic BP. In conclusion, AN is the pivotal factor of blunted nocturnal fall in BP in both type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients. In type 1 diabetic patients AN is associated with attenuated circadian pattern of albuminuria and with a steeper relationship between albuminuria and BP, in type 2 diabetic patients AN is the only factor related to elevated 24-h BP levels. Longitudinal studies are needed to establish the potential role of autonomic dysfunction as a progression promoter for nephropathy and hypertension in type 1 and type 2 diabetes respectively.
    Journal of Human Hypertension 05/2001; 15(4):239-46. · 2.80 Impact Factor
  • Article: Assessment of sympathetic innervation of the heart in diabetes mellitus using 123I-MIBG.
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    ABSTRACT: Radio-labeled metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) is considered an established sympathetic neuron imaging agent capable of scintigraphically visualizing the organs richly innervated by the sympathetic nervous system. Its clinical applications now include cardiac and pulmonary adrenergic imaging. The quantitative determination of global and/or regional abnormalities of MIBG heart uptake has been demonstrated to be very useful in several clinical settings representing one of the major determinants of adverse prognosis. The presence and the severity of autonomic neuropathy are known as important prognostic factors in patients with diabetes. MIBG scintigraphy is able to non-invasively assess and characterize the adrenergic abnormalities of the cardiac innervation also in these patients. In order to evaluate whether 123I-MIBG is able to reveal abnormalities of myocardial adrenergic function in different groups of diabetic patients, we performed 123I-MIBG scintigraphy in control subjects and in normotensive Type 1 diabetic patients with and without autonomic neuropathy (N+ and N- patients), selected according to results of cardiovascular reflex tests. Regional abnormalities of adrenergic innervation were revealed in 10% of control subjects, in 70% of N- patients and in 100% of N+ patients. The finding of a higher than expected prevalence of MIBG regional abnormalities in patients without signs or symptoms of autonomic neuropathy allows to hypothesize that cardiac autonomic nervous damage occurs earlier than previously known in diabetic patients whose cardiovascular tests are still completely normal.
    Diabetes, nutrition & metabolism 01/2001; 13(6):350-5.
  • Article: Diagnosis of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy in diabetes.
    V Spallone, G Menzinger
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    ABSTRACT: The utility of standard cardiovascular tests for diagnosis of cardiac autonomic neuropathy in diabetes has been well documented. Attention must be paid to standardizing the procedure with regard to time of day, metabolic status, distance from meal and insulin, coffee and smoking avoidance, and patient's collaboration. In the presence of cardiovascular disease or drugs affecting the cardiovascular or autonomic nervous system, some caution is needed in interpreting the results. More recent reflex tests, which evaluate mainly sympathetic or baroreflex activity, despite their ability to detect early autonomic involvement, lack sufficient standardization and still need to be proved as valid alternatives. Of the different methods of measuring heart rate variability, spectral analysis has a greater ability to differentiate vagal and sympathetic modulation of heart rate than do time-domain methods. However, since these latter methods are easier and more widely available, they can be used as a screening approach. Twenty-four-hour evaluation of heart rate variability provides data on the circadian rhythm of sympathovagal activity, which can be affected earlier than and differently from cardiovascular reflex tests. Information obtained could have prognostic implications in terms of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and offer therapeutic opportunities. However, a wide consensus on many technical aspects of both time-domain and frequency-domain methods is needed. Furthermore, large prospective studies in the diabetic population to assess the prognostic value of 24-h heart rate variability parameters on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality are lacking. Recently, I123 meta-iodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scintigraphy has documented abnormalities of sympathetic myocardial innervation also in newly diagnosed IDDM. The meaning of this finding, whether it is an expression of functional or structural defects, needs to be clarified. Preliminary data point to a possible pathogenetic meaning of the known association between autonomic neuropathy and other diabetic complications. This area of investigation could provide useful insights into the complex and multifactorial pathogenesis of diabetic complications.
    Diabetes 10/1997; 46 Suppl 2:S67-76. · 8.29 Impact Factor
  • Article: Autonomic neuropathy and cardiovascular risk factors in insulin-dependent and non insulin-dependent diabetes.
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    ABSTRACT: In 97 IDDM and 64 NIDDM patients aged under 65 years, we evaluated the relationship between autonomic neuropathy (AN) and retinopathy, nephropathy, glycemic control and cardiovascular risk factors. Diabetes duration and HbA1 were significantly higher and body mass index was significantly lower in IDDM patients with AN compared to those without. In NIDDM only age was significantly higher in neuropathic patients. AN was associated with retinopathy in both IDDM (chi2 = 10, P < 0.03) and NIDDM patients (chi2 = 14, P < 0.007), while only in IDDM albumin excretion was significantly higher in patients with AN. Blood pressure (BP) was significantly higher in both IDDM and NIDDM patients with AN compared to those without. There were no differences in smoking and serum lipids between patients with and those without AN. We performed a multiple regression analysis using autonomic score, index of cardiovascular tests impairment, as the dependent variable and age, diabetes duration, body mass index, HbA1, albumin excretion, cholesterolemia, triglyceridemia, systolic BP, and retinopathy as independent variables. With this model in IDDM autonomic score was only related to body mass index (r = -0.29, P < 0.05), to HbA1 (r = 0.46, P < 0.001), and to systolic BP (r = 0.24, P < 0.05), while in NIDDM it was only related to systolic BP (r = 0.54, P < 0.001). In conclusion, AN was related to age in NIDDM, and to diabetes duration and glycemic control in IDDM. AN was associated with retinopathy, with nephropathy (only in IDDM), and with BP levels, but not with dyslipidemia, smoking, or obesity. Excess mortality rate observed in diabetic AN cannot be referred to an association with cardiovascular risk factors.
    Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice 02/1997; 34(3):169-79. · 2.75 Impact Factor
  • Article: Autonomic neuropathy: clinical and instrumental findings.
    V Spallone, G Menzinger
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    ABSTRACT: The development of sensitive techniques evaluating functions under autonomic control has allowed the early detection of widespread abnormalities in diabetes mellitus. However, despite a high frequency of functional abnormalities, an overt clinical syndrome develops slowly and is quite rare. Characteristic clinical features, more recent methods for evaluating autonomic function, diagnostic procedures, and main instrumental findings in a diabetic population are reported. Emphasis is given to more promising techniques evaluating autonomic control of the cardiovascular system, such as myocardial scintigraphy and assessment of 24-h blood pressure and heart rate variability. The clinical meaning of the number of functional abnormalities observed in diabetic patients is considered. While the role of autonomic neuropathy in the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal motor disorders, hypoglycaemia unawareness or diabetic impotence needs to be revised, the importance of autonomic-related sweating and blood flow abnormalities in the pathogenesis of diabetic foot lesions is now better documented. Moreover, growing evidence of the importance of autonomic control of cardiovascular system, together with cardiovascular dysfunction linked to diabetic autonomic neuropathy, supports the hypothesis of a possible role of autonomic neuropathy in the increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality observed in diabetic patients.
    Clinical neuroscience (New York, N.Y.) 02/1997; 4(6):346-58.
  • Article: Twenty-four-hour pattern of blood pressure and spectral analysis of heart rate variability in diabetic patients with various degrees of autonomic neuropathy. Comparison to standard cardiovascular tests.
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    ABSTRACT: We performed four cardiovascular tests of autonomic function (deep breathing, lying to standing, Valsalva manoeuvre, postural hypotension) and simultaneous 24h recordings of blood pressure (BP) and ECG in 35 normotensive diabetic subjects. Autoregressive power spectrum analysis of RR interval variability was applied to 24h ECG recordings to obtain for day and night periods power of low- (0.03-0.15 Hz, LF) and high-frequency (0.18- 0.40 Hz, HF) components, relative markers of sympathetic and vagal activity respectively, and their ratio (LF/HF), assumed as index of sympathovagal balance. Eighteen patients showed normal cardiovascular tests, 6 patients one abnormal heart rate test, 5 patients two abnormal heart rate tests, and 6 patients also abnormal postural hypotension test. In diabetic patients with increasing degree of autonomic neuropathy, there was a progressive reduction of day-night change in systolic BP (p < 0.01), of LF during the day (p < 0.01), of HF during the night (p < 0.04), of day-night change in HF (p < 0.02), and of day-night change in HF/LF (p < 0.03). Day-night change in systolic BP was related to postural hypotension (p < 0.001) and to deep breathing (p < 0.01). Day LF was related to lying to standing (p < 0.001), to postural hypotension (p < 0.005) and to deep breathing (p < 0.007). Night HF was related to deep breathing (p < 0.0002) and to lying to standing (p < 0.02). Day-night change in HF/LF was slightly related to deep breathing, lying to standing, and to postural hypotension (p < 0.04). In a multiple regression analysis including age, diabetes duration, and cardiovascular tests as independent variables, day-night change in BP and day LF were only related to postural hypotension, whereas night HF was related to deep breathing. In conclusion, in diabetic patients with increasing autonomic damage, there is a progressive impairment of nocturnal fall of BP and of sympathetic activity during the day, blunted nocturnal increase of vagal activity and lower circadian variation in sympathovagal balance. The significant but not very close correlation of day-night pattern of BP and sympathovagal activity to standard cardiovascular reflex tests, supports the independent usefulness of 24h BP monitoring and spectral analysis of heart rate variability in diabetic neuropathy.
    Clinical Science 01/1996; 91 Suppl:105-7. · 4.61 Impact Factor
  • Article: Diabetic autonomic neuropathy.
    V Spallone, L Uccioli, G Menzinger
    Diabetes / Metabolism Reviews 11/1995; 11(3):227-57.
  • Article: Relationship between autonomic neuropathy, 24-h blood pressure profile, and nephropathy in normotensive IDDM patients.
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    ABSTRACT: To evaluate the relationship between autonomic neuropathy, nephropathy, and 24-h blood pressure (BP) pattern in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). We studied 30 normotensive IDDM patients without overt nephropathy, divided into two groups and matched for age, duration of diabetes, and HbA1, according to the presence of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy. We simultaneously measured 24-h BP and urinary albumin excretion rate (UAE) on urine collections timed overnight and at 2-h intervals during the day. Mean day and night systolic and diastolic BP values did not significantly differ between the groups. Mean night albuminuria was significantly higher in patients with autonomic neuropathy than in those without (61.4 +/- 104.6 [mean +/- SD] vs. 16 +/- 25.2 micrograms/min, P < 0.04). The percentages day-night changes in systolic BP, diastolic BP, and UAE were significantly lower in neuropathic patients (systolic BP: 2.4 +/- 7.7 vs. 9.6 +/- 4.2%, P < 0.001; diastolic BP: 8.4 +/- 6.9 vs. 15.5 +/- 5.4%, P < 0.002; UAE: -8 +/- 99.4 vs. 49.3 +/- 29.4%, P < 0.02) and were inversely related to autonomic score, index of autonomic neuropathy degree (r = -0.54, P < 0.002; r = -0.58, P < 0.001; and r = -0.53, P < 0.005, respectively). In patients with autonomic neuropathy, 2-h day periods and day and night UAE were more strongly related, respectively, to mean 2-h day periods (r = 0.58, P < 0.0001), day systolic BP (r = 0.67, P < 0.04), and night systolic BP (r = 0.69, P < 0.04) than in patients without autonomic neuropathy (2-h day periods: r = 0.32, P < 0.001; day: r = 0.37, NS; night: r = 0.35, NS). Autonomic neuropathy in IDDM patients is associated with reduced nocturnal falls in BP and UAE and with a stronger relationship of UAE to systolic BP. We suggest a pathogenetic role of autonomic neuropathy in the development of diabetic nephropathy through changes in nocturnal glomerular function and by enhanced kidney vulnerability to hemodynamic effects of BP.
    Diabetes Care 06/1994; 17(6):578-84. · 8.09 Impact Factor
  • Article: Relationship between the circadian rhythms of blood pressure and sympathovagal balance in diabetic autonomic neuropathy.
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    ABSTRACT: In diabetic autonomic neuropathy, abnormal circadian patterns of blood pressure and sympathovagal balance with reduced fall of blood pressure and prevalence of sympathetic activity during the night have been described. To correlate the abnormalities of blood pressure to those of sympathovagal balance, we simultaneously performed 24-h noninvasive monitoring of blood pressure and ECG in 25 diabetic patients (45.6 +/- 13.6 yr of age with a 17.6 +/- 9.1 yr duration of diabetes) with various degrees of cardiovascular reflex impairment. Autoregressive power spectrum analysis of RR interval variability was applied to 24-h ECG recordings to obtain for day and night periods the mean power of low- (0.03-0.15 Hz) and high-frequency (0.18-0.40 Hz) components, which are relative markers of sympathetic and vagal activity, respectively, and their ratio (low frequency/high frequency), assumed as index of sympathovagal balance. Diabetic patients showed a lower percentage of day-night change in systolic blood pressure (9 +/- 5.48 vs. 11.6 +/- 4.78%, P < 0.037), a lower day low frequency (5.9 +/- 0.81 vs. 6.62 +/- 0.73 In-ms2, P < 0.001), a lower night high frequency (6.06 +/- 0.71 vs. 6.52 +/- 0.85 In-ms2, P < 0.05), a lower day low frequency:high frequency ratio (1.82 +/- 1.77 vs. 3.05 +/- 1.82, P < 0.01), and a lower percentage of day-night change in low-frequency:high frequency ratio (-13.4 +/- 109.9 vs. 28.7 +/- 29.7%, P < 0.05), when compared with control subjects.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
    Diabetes 01/1994; 42(12):1745-52. · 8.29 Impact Factor
  • Article: The relationship of autonomic neuropathy to other diabetic complications.
    G Menzinger, S Gambardella, V Spallone
    Diabetic Medicine 02/1993; 10 Suppl 2:74S-76S. · 2.90 Impact Factor
  • Article: Increased left ventricular mass in normotensive diabetic patients with autonomic neuropathy.
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    ABSTRACT: The possible relationship between diabetic autonomic neuropathy, circadian blood pressure changes, and echocardiographic parameters was investigated in 27 normotensive diabetic patients (10 with and 17 without autonomic neuropathy) who underwent 24 h noninvasive ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and M-mode echocardiographic recording. The two groups were comparable for age, sex, duration of diabetes, body mass index, and metabolic control. There were no significant differences in 24 h average and diurnal values of systolic, diastolic, or mean blood pressure. The percent changes from day to night of systolic, diastolic, and mean blood pressures were significantly lower in diabetics with neuropathy than in those without (P < .04 or less). Increased left ventricular mass index (LVMI) (135.4 +/- 10.2 v 102.9 +/- 6.3; P < .005), septal wall thickness, and posterior wall width were observed in neuropathic patients. Fractional shortening, peak velocity of early left ventricular filling (E), peak velocity of late ventricular filling (A), and their ratio (E/A) were similar in the two groups. The increased LVMI we observed may represent a possible link between diabetic autonomic neuropathy, nocturnal blood pressure levels, and higher cardiovascular mortality rate.
    American Journal of Hypertension 02/1993; 6(2):97-102. · 3.18 Impact Factor
  • Article: Carbohydrate metabolism in hypertension: influence of treatment.
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    ABSTRACT: Epidemiologic studies suggest a close association between hypertension, obesity, and diabetes. It has been demonstrated that essential hypertension, per se, is an insulin-resistant state. However, the pathogenesis of the association between insulin resistance and hypertension is poorly understood. Elevated plasma insulin levels may contribute to the development of hypertension through renal sodium reabsorption, the sympathetic nervous system, the transmembranous cation transport, the renin-angiotensin system, the cardiovascular reactivity, and the atrial natriuretic peptide. Diuretics, beta-blockers, calcium antagonists, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, and alpha 1-antagonists are first-choice drugs in the management of hypertension. Diuretics, except indapamide, impair insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance. The same negative effects, exerted by beta-blockers, are reduced employing those with selective activity. With few exceptions, calcium antagonists have no adverse influence on carbohydrate metabolism. ACE inhibitors and alpha 1-antagonists do not influence or even improve glucose metabolism.
    Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology 02/1993; 22 Suppl 6:S87-97. · 2.29 Impact Factor
  • Article: Regression of microalbuminuria in type II diabetic, hypertensive patients after long-term indapamide treatment.
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    ABSTRACT: The influence of hypertension on the progression of persistent microalbuminuria in type II diabetes has not yet been clarified. We have studied the effects of 36 months of indapamide treatment (2.5 mg once daily) on blood pressure (BP), albumin excretion rate (AER), urinary immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4), and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in 10 patients who were mildly hypertensive and had type II microalbuminuric diabetes (AER greater than 30 mg/24 hours and less than 300 mg/24 hours). BP, AER, and IgG4 significantly decreased after 6 months until the end of the study. Mean GFR was 94.4 +/- 7.5 ml/min/1.73 m2 in the baseline and did not change significantly throughout the course of the antihypertensive therapy. AER and IgG4 were directly related (r = 0.57; p less than 0.004), whereas BP did not relate to GFR, AER, or IgG4. The nephropathy index (45.5 +/- 4 in the baseline) significantly decreased at 12 months (38.7 +/- 2.1), 24 months (35.4 +/- 1.6), and 36 months (36.5 +/- 1.5) (at least p less than 0.01). Long-term indapamide treatment reduced BP and urinary protein loss without affecting GFR. These results indicate a potential role of this drug in the long-term renal protection of patients with type II diabetes, mild hypertension, and microalbuminuria.
    American Heart Journal 11/1991; 122(4 Pt 2):1232-8. · 4.65 Impact Factor