Impairment of cardiorespiratory reflexes and its association with distal somatic neuropathy in diabetic patients free from clinical symptoms of autonomic neuropathy.

Signs of autonomic cardiac neuropathy and its association with distal somatic neuropathy were investigated in 36 type 1 and 28 type 2 diabetic patients free from clinical symptoms of autonomic neuropathy. Using bedside tests (deep-breathing, Valsalva manoeuvre and lying-to-standing) definitive cardiac autonomic neuropathy was found in 28 patients (44%), early cardiac autonomic neuropathy was observed in 19 patients (30%) while 17 patients (26%) showed no alterations