title: Urinary excretion and plasma levels of norepinephrine and epinephrine during diabetic ketoacidosis.
abstract: Sympathetic activity was determined in 13 ketoacidotic diabetics by evaluation of plasma and urinary catecholamines, before and in the course of medical management. Patients were divided into two groups. Group A (severe ketoacidosis, n = 5) and Group B (moderate ketoacidosis, = 8), depending on plasma glucose, pH and plasma bicarbonate levels. The results showed an enhanced sympathetic activity in all patients before treatment, with significant decrease during therapy. In Group A plasma catecholamines were higher than in Group B, both before and in the course of therapy. A significant correlation was found between basal plasma catecholamines and initial plasma glucose, plasma bicarbonate, hours of therapy and insulin dosage required to obtain plasma glucose levels below 150 mg/100 ml .These results, suggesting a close correlation between glycometabolic control and adrenergic activity, emphasize the role of the sympathetic nervous system as a powerful contrainsular factor in the pathogenesis and metabolic derangement of diabetic ketoacidosis.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016883:Diabetic Ketoacidosis / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine*; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine