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Catecholamines and Diabetic Autonomic Neuropathy
Author(s) -
Hilsted J.
Publication year - 1995
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.1464-5491.1995.tb00479.x
Subject(s) - medicine , autonomic neuropathy , diabetic neuropathy , diabetes mellitus , endocrinology , genetics , biology , cell culture , neuroblastoma
In diabetic patients with autonomic neuropathy plasma noradrenaline concentration, used as an index of sympathetic nervous activity, is low. This decrease is, however, only found in patients with a long duration of diabetes with clinically severe autonomic neuropathy. This apparent insensitivity of plasma catecholamine measurements is not due to changes in the clearance of catecholamines in diabetic autonomic neuropathy. The physiological responses to infused adrenaline and to noradrenaline are enhanced, for noradrenaline mainly cardiovascular responses. Adrenoceptors (alpha and beta adrenoceptors) are not altered in circulating blood cells in diabetic autonomic neuropathy. Thus, a generalized up‐regulation of adrenoceptors does not occur in diabetic autonomic neuropathy.