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Cell‐mediated Immunity and Symptomatic Diabetic Autonomic Neuropathy
Author(s) -
Gilbey S. G.,
Hussain M. J.,
Watkins P. J.,
Vergani D.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
diabetic medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.474
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1464-5491
pISSN - 0742-3071
DOI - 10.1111/j.1464-5491.1988.tb01122.x
Subject(s) - medicine , neuritis , diabetes mellitus , complication , peripheral neuropathy , immune system , autonomic neuropathy , autonomic nerve , autonomic nervous system , type 1 diabetes , immunopathology , diabetic neuropathy , lymphocyte , immunology , endocrinology , gastroenterology , surgery , blood pressure , heart rate , biology , cell culture , genetics , neuroblastoma
T lymphocytes have been implicated in the nerve damage observed in allergic experimental neuritis and in idiopathic polyneuritis. Symptomatic autonomic neuropathy in long‐standing Type 1 diabetes is a rare and unexplained complication, and some preliminary evidence has suggested a pathogenetic role for the immune system. We have measured levels of activated T lymphocytes in 18 Type 1 diabetic patients with symptomatic autonomic neuropathy and in 16 matched patients with uncomplicated Type 1 diabetes. Purified T lymphocytes from peripheral blood were stained with a fluorescein‐labelled monoclonal antibody directed to the activation marker HLA‐DR and counted under UV microscopy. Percent DR positive T lymphocytes were significantly raised in the patients with autonomic neuropathy when compared with long‐standing uncomplicated diabetic patients (8.2 ± 4.2 vs 4.9 ± 3.3%, p < 0.01). This finding lends support for a role of the immune system in the development of autonomic neuropathy.