title: Clinical significance of the presence of autonomic and vestibular dysfunction in diabetic patients with peripheral neuropathy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We investigated the prevalence of diabetic autonomic neuropathy (DAN) and vestibular dysfunction (VD) in diabetic patients with peripheral neuropathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-five diabetic patients with peripheral neuropathy were enrolled from August 2008 to July 2009. All subjects underwent autonomic function tests. Nineteen of the patients (54.3%) underwent videonystagmography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Diabetic autonomic neuropathy was observed in 28 patients (80%). A mild degree of autonomic failure was observed in 18 patients (64.3%), and a moderate degree of autonomic failure was observed in ten patients (35.7%). Factors related to DAN included diabetic nephropathy (P=0.032), degree of chronic kidney disease (P=0.003), and duration of diabetes (P=0.044). Vestibular dysfunction was observed in 11 of 19 patients (57.9%). There was no significant association between DAN and VD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diabetic autonomic neuropathy was observed in 28 diabetic patients (80%) with peripheral neuropathy. Vestibular dysfunction was observed in nearly 60% of diabetic patients with peripheral neuropathy who complained of dizziness but showed no significant association with DAN. Diabetic patients who complained of dizziness need to examine both autonomic function and vestibular function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Korea.
authors.forename: Soo Kyoung
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kyeong Ju
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jong Ryeal
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Hahm
authors.forename: Sang Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Tae Sik
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Jung Hwa
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Sungsu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Deok Ryong
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seong-Ki
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Won-Hee
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Soon Il
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Chung