title: Anti-sympathetic nervous system autoantibodies. Diminished catecholamines with orthostasis.
abstract: The etiology of autonomic neuropathy in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is unknown. Previous studies have noted the presence of anti-adrenal medullary antibodies in IDDM. Recently, we have also demonstrated the presence of anti-sympathetic ganglia antibodies in IDDM. We initiated a study to evaluate whether subjects with complement-fixing anti-adrenal medullary (CF-ADM) and anti-sympathetic ganglia (CF-SG) antibodies have a decreased catecholamine response to change in posture. Seven IDDM subjects aged 19-41 yr with duration of disease 5-21 yr at the time of the posture study were evaluated. Serums collected longitudinally were evaluated for the presence of CF-ADM and CF-SG antibodies. Three IDDM subjects were CF-ADM- and CF-SG- at all testing intervals (Ab- group). Four IDDM subjects were CF-ADM+ and/or CF-SG+ on at least one testing date (Ab+ group). Baseline mean norepinephrine and epinephrine levels were not significantly different in Ab+ and Ab- subjects. Norepinephrine levels 5 min after standing were mean +/- SD 227 +/- 16 and 419 +/- 48 pg/ml for Ab+ and Ab- subjects, respectively (P less than .03). The means of the 5-min minus basal norepinephrine levels were 88 +/- 42 (Ab+) and 207 +/- 26 (Ab-) pg/ml (P less than .03). Mean epinephrine levels after 5 min of standing were 35 +/- 16 (Ab+) and 101 +/- 44 (Ab-) pg/ml (P less than .03). The means of the 5-min minus basal epinephrine levels were 1 +/- 5 (Ab+) and 43 +/- 38 (Ab-) pg/ml (P less than .03).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Immunology Section, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA 02215.
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Brink
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Rabinowe
mesh_terms: D000313:Adrenal Medulla / Q000276:immunology; D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000276:immunology; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D011187:Posture; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D002395:Catecholamines