Circulatory Reflex Response in Diabetic Patients With or Without Peripheral Neuropathy

A bstract : Two groups of diabetic patients of comparable age were studied. In Group I were 14 patients who had a history, physical findings and electromyographic readings consistent with diabetic peripheral neuropathy. In Group II were 17 patients with a comparable history of diabetes but without any physical or EMG signs of diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Valsalva's maneuver was used to detect abnormal circulatory reflexes, and thus to determine whether or not autonomic neuropathy regularly accompanies peripheral neuropathy in diabetes. In Group I, 2 of the 14 patients showed a normal response, and 4 a partial response (42.7 per cent). In Group II, 5 of the 17 patients showed a normal response, and 7 a partial response (70.6 per cent). The significantly lower number of responses to Valsalva's maneuver in Group I suggests a close correlation between peripheral neuropathy and autonomic neuropathy in diabetes mellitus.