Defective innervation of heart in diabetic autonomic neuropathy.
Heart rate responses to autonomic stimulation and inhibition were studied in 13 diabetic autonomic neuropathy. Parasympathetic function was impaired in all patients and sympathetic function in most. One patient's heart appeared to be totally denervated. The consequences of cardiac denervation include tachycardia, a fixed heart rate, and a possible tendency to cardiac dysrhythmias, which caused spontaneous cardiac arrests in three patients.
D000328:Adult; D000680:Amyl Nitrite / Q000494:pharmacology; D001285:Atropine / Q000494:pharmacology; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000294:innervation*; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000209:etiology; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008120:Lobeline / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010275:Parasympathetic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology; D010656:Phenylephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011187:Posture; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000209:etiology; D014636:Valsalva Maneuver
D010656:Phenylephrine; D001285:Atropine; D000680:Amyl Nitrite; D011433:Propranolol; D008120:Lobeline