title: Effect of alpha lipoic acid on cardiac autonomic dysfunction and platelet reactivity in type 1 diabetes: rationale and design of the AUTOnomic function and platelet REACTivity trial (AUTO-REACT protocol).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study is to assess the relationship between cardiac autonomic dysfunction and increased platelet reactivity in patients with type 1 diabetes and whether alpha lipoic acid therapy (ALA) might improve both abnormalities in these patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cardiac autonomic function will be assessed by heart rate variability (HRV) analysis. Platelet reactivity will be investigated by both measuring the aggregation time on the PFA-100 method and flow cytometry. HRV and platelet reactivity will be re-assessed in the patients with depressed HRV after 4 weeks from randomization to ALA or placebo.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The cardiovascular autonomic system might play a role in the modulation of platelet reactivity which is increased in diabetes. Within this framework, ALA might be found to exercise antithrombotic effects in addition to its known antioxidants properties.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Australian Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN 12610000291088.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Largo A Gemelli 8, 800168 Rome, Italy. eliano.navarese@alice.it
authors.forename: Eliano Pio
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Navarese
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mollo
authors.forename: Antonino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Buffon
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects*; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008063:Thioctic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D008063:Thioctic Acid