title: Decreased salivary glucose secretory rate: usefulness for detection of diabetic patients with autonomic neuropathy.
abstract: In this study we investigated whether the presence of diabetic autonomic neuropathy (DAN) leads to an altered composition of saliva. DAN was evaluated in 33 normal subjects and 31 diabetic patients by means of the Valsalva manoeuvre, R-R variation during deep breathing, heart rate response to standing and lying down and blood pressure response to standing. Salivary flow (ml/h), salivary glucose levels (mumol/l) and salivary glucose secretory rate (mumol/h) were measured in each subject. Twelve diabetic patients were positive for DAN. Salivary flow (13 +/- 2 ml/h) and glucose concentration (330 +/- 50 mumol/l) were not significantly lower in patients with DAN than in normal subjects (18 +/- 2 ml/h, 500 +/- 50 mumol/l) and diabetic patients without DAN (16 +/- 1.9 ml/h, 500 +/- 40 mumol/l). The salivary glucose secretion rate was significantly lower (P less than 0.02) in diabetic patients with DAN (4.2 +/- 1.0 mumol/h) than in normal subjects and diabetic patients without DAN (9.0 +/- 1.0 mumol/h and 8.0 +/- 0.9 mumol/h respectively). The test had a good sensitivity and specificity, and appeared to be particularly indicated in discriminating patients without DAN. It is suggested that the measurement of salivary glucose may represent a simple, quick and inexpensive method for the screening of diabetic autonomic neuropathy.
authors.affiliation: Cattedra di Malattie del Ricambio, Istituto di Clinica Medica II, Universitá di Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marchetti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tognarelli
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Giannarelli
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grossi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Picaro
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: di Carlo
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Benzi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ciccarone
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Navalesi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D001794:Blood Pressure; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012119:Respiration; D012463:Saliva / Q000032:analysis; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000378:metabolism*; D012472:Salivation
chemical_list: D005947:Glucose