Adrenergic mechanisms and blood pressure regulation in diabetes mellitus

Summary Changes in blood pressure (BP) and plasma norepinephrine (NE) following various stimuli of the sympathetic nervous system were studied in six healthy subjects and in 17 diabetic patients. The latter were subdivided in three groups: (1) six patients with neither peripheral neuropathy nor autonomic dysregulation, (2) six patients with severe peripheral neuropathy without autonomic dysregulation, and (3) five patients with autonomic dysregulation, three of whom suffered also from peripheral neuropathy. The following procedures were performed: (1) cold pressor test (2 min), (2) mechanical irritation of the skin by suction (0.75 kg/cm², 10 min), (3) orthostasis (10 min), and (4) i.v. infusion of NE (50, 100, 200 ng kg^–1 min^–1 for 15 min each). Both the stimulated endogenous plasma NE levels and BP response to exogenous NE were the same in normal subjects, in diabetic controls and in diabetics with peripheral neuropathy without autonomic dysregulation. In contrast, diabetics with postural hypotension showed a less pronounced release of NE to standing (P<0.05), but not to cold pressor test and mechanical skin irritation. Furthermore, they showed increased vasoreactivity to the highest dose (P<0.05), but not to the lower doses of exogenous NE. Thus NE release and adrenergic BP regulation seem to be altered only in diabetics with clinical signs of autonomic dysregulation. These alterations can only be evaluated when patients are exposed to stimuli of higher intensity, such as orthostasis or infusion of a high NE dose.