We studied the relationship between vasoconstrictor changes in foot arteries (pedal, metatarsal, and digital arteries) and autonomic neuropathy in diabetic patients to estimate the degrees of sympathetic dysfunction.
Sixty-two patients and nineteen age-matched control subjects were studied. The resistance index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) were measured as vascular hemodynamic parameters using Doppler sonography, and the increases in these hemodynamic parameters (%RI and %PI) from rest to a deep breath were measured as indexes of the degrees of sympathetic vasoconstrictor function. Cardiovascular autonomic function tests (AFTs) were performed and the score was compared to %RI and %PI values obtained.
Of the 62 diabetic patients, 51 had various degrees of autonomic neuropathy. Both %RI and %PI in the diabetic patients were significantly < those in the control subjects for all foot arteries tested (all P < 0.001). There were strongly inverse correlations between the %RI and %PI of foot arteries and the AFT score (r = −0.556 to −0.846, P < 0.0001). The %RI of the digital artery was the most strongly correlated with AFT score (r = −0.846, P < 0.0001) among foot arteries tested. The abnormality of sympathetic vasoconstriction was detectable in the majority of the diabetic patients with the early phase of autonomic neuropathy (%RI: 89.5%; %PI: 94.5%).
We conclude that the %RI of the digital artery is a useful and reliable sympathetic function test of early phase in diabetic patients.
