Affiliations: [a] Department of Neurology, University Hospital St. Ivan Rilsky – Sofia, Medical Universities of Sofia and Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| [b] Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Neurology and Psychiatry, Medical University, Sofia, Bulgaria
| [c] Department of Biomechanics, Institute of Mechanics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
| [d] Clinic of Functional Diagnostics of the Nervous System, Military Medical Academy, Sofia, Bulgaria
| [e] Department of Medical Rehabilitation and Occupational Therapy, Medical University, Sofia, Bulgaria
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Prof. Zlatka Stoyneva, MD, PhD, Department of Neurology, University Hospital St. Ivan Rilsky, 15 Acad. Ivan Geshov Bld., 1431 Sofia, Bulgaria. Tel.: +359 2 9525934; Mobile: +359 8 89438123; E-mail: [email protected].
Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the venoarteriolar reflex (VAR) responses in type 1 (T1DM) and type 2 (T2DM) diabetes mellitus (DM) with polyneuropathy and to estimate their relationship with age, DM duration, initial cutaneous temperature and body mass index. Four groups of subjects were investigated: 1st group –20 patients with T1DM; 2nd group –50 patients with T2DM; 3rd group of 20 healthy subjects with similar age and body mass index (BMI) to the T1DM group; 4th group (Control2) of 24 healthy subjects adjusted by age and BMI to the T2DM group. The cutaneous perfusions of the big toe pulp were monitored as baseline perfusions at a temperature of 32°C in supine and sitting position with hanging legs and back in supine position. Loss of venoarteriolar reflex responses was established in 75% of T1DM patients, 78% of T2DM patients and in none of the investigated healthy controls. Reduced venoarteriolar perfusion responses were established in both T1DM and T2DM patients with polyneuropathy compared with healthy subjects. Reliable positive associations between VAR responses and the age, DM duration and initial cutaneous temperature were found.
