title: Factors determining the 24-h blood pressure profile in normotensive patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
abstract: Some controversy still exists about factors involved in the abnormal circadian pattern of blood pressure (BP) in diabetes, while prognostic value of non-dipping condition is being increasingly recognised. This study was aimed at evaluating the relative influence of autonomic neuropathy (AN) and albumin excretion on 24-h BP profile in type 1 and type 2 diabetes. We measured AN cardiovascular tests, 24-h ambulatory BP, and urinary albumin excretion rate (UAE) in 47 type 1 and 34 type 2 normotensive non-proteinuric diabetic patients. In type 1 diabetic patients day-night differences (Delta) in systolic and diastolic BP were lower in those with AN than in those without (3 +/- 9 vs 10 +/- 6%, P < 0.01, and 8 +/- 9 vs 16 +/- 6%, P < 0.001), and in univariate regression analysis they were inversely related to both autonomic score, index of degree of AN (r = -0.61, P < 0.001 and r = -0.65, P < 0.001), and to 24-h UAE (r = -0.39, P < 0.01 and r = -0.46, P < 0.001). In type 1 diabetic patients AN was also associated with lower nocturnal decrease in UAE (patients with AN vs without AN: -37 +/- 214 vs 49 +/- 37%, P < 0.05), and with a stronger relationship between simultaneous 24-h UAE and 24-h BP (for systolic BP patients with AN vs without AN: r = 0.62, P < 0.01 vs r = 0.28, NS). In type 2 diabetic patients Delta systolic BP was reduced in patients with AN compared to those without (4 +/- 7 vs 10 +/- 4%, P < 0.01), and it was related only to autonomic score (r = -0.42, P < 0.01). Using a stepwise regression analysis, in type 1 diabetic patients autonomic score was the variable of primary importance for Delta BP, while in type 2 diabetic patients it was the unique determinant not only of Delta systolic BP but also of 24-h systolic BP. In conclusion, AN is the pivotal factor of blunted nocturnal fall in BP in both type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients. In type 1 diabetic patients AN is associated with attenuated circadian pattern of albuminuria and with a steeper relationship between albuminuria and BP, in type 2 diabetic patients AN is the only factor related to elevated 24-h BP levels. Longitudinal studies are needed to establish the potential role of autonomic dysfunction as a progression promoter for nephropathy and hypertension in type 1 and type 2 diabetes respectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Spallone
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Maiello
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cicconetti
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pannone
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barini
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gambardella
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Menzinger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000419:Albuminuria / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged