[Inspiration-triggered vasoconstrictive episodes in healthy subjects, in patients with diabetes mellitus and in patients with clinically manifest polyneuropathy of variable origin. A simple Doppler ultrasound test to assess the autonomic vascular functional unit of the upper extremity].
BACKGROUND
A cost- and time efficient ultrasound-Doppler-test is introduced to evaluate the function of autonomic innervation of the upper limb. A voluntary inspiratory vasoconstrictor episode (VICE) after a provoked deep inspiration, transmitted via sympathetic nervous system, can be demonstrated at the radial artery using basic Doppler equipment.


METHODS
VICEs were investigated in 30 healthy subjects (group A), in 20 patients with diabetes mellitus without clinical signs of polyneuropathy (group B) and in 20 patients with clinically manifest polyneuropathy (group C).


RESULTS
In all healthy subjects a two minutes arterial occlusion led to a decrease of resistance index (RI) lower than 0.9 indicating sufficient hyperemia. RI during VICE increased to 1.0 in all healthy subjects. In 50% of the patients of group B as well as in 50% of the patients of group C the test revealed abnormal findings suggesting a disorder of the functional peripheral neurovascular unity.
Mück-Weymann
M
M
Abteilung für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg.
Kalb
R
R
Heckmann
J
J
von den Driesch
P
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001132:Arm / Q000098:blood supply / Q000294:innervation; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011115:Polyneuropathies / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017534:Radial Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012119:Respiration / Q000502:physiology; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D014655:Vascular Resistance; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000502:physiology*
Inspirationsgetriggerte vasokonstriktorische Episoden bei Gesunden, bei Patienten mit Diabetes mellitus sowie bei Patienten mit klinisch manifester Polyneuropathie unterschiedlicher Genese. Ein einfacher Ultraschall-Doppler-Test zur Prüfung der autonomvaskulären Funktionseinheit an der oberen Extremität.