Nitrosative Stress, Uric Acid, and Peripheral Nerve Function in Early Type 1 Diabetes

The present study was performed to determine whether nitric oxide overproduction is associated with deterioration in peripheral nerve function in type 1 diabetes. We measured peripheral nerve function and biochemical indicators of nitrosative stress annually for 3 years in 37 patients with type 1 diabetes. Plasma nitrite and nitrate (collectively NO x ) were 34.0 ± 4.9 μmol/l in the control subjects and 52.4 ± 5.1, 50.0 ± 5.1, and 49.0 ± 5.2 in the diabetic patients at the first, second, and third evaluations, respectively ( P P P Z score −0.522 ± 0.25 versus 0.273 ± 0.22; P x had decreased sweating, and those with suppressed uric acid had decreased autonomic function. In conclusion, nitrosative stress in early diabetes is associated with suppressed uric acid and deterioration in peripheral nerve function.