Palpebral Fissure Response to Phenylephrine Indicates Autonomic Dysfunction in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes and Polyneuropathy.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

The superior and inferior tarsal muscles are sympathetically innervated smooth muscles. Long-term diabetes often leads to microvascular complications, such as, retinopathy and autonomic neuropathy. We hypothesized that diabetes induces (1) sympathetic paresis in the superior and inferior tarsal muscles and that this measure is associated with (2) the severity of diabetic retinopathy, (3) the duration of diabetes, and (4) autonomic function. In addition, association between the severity of retinopathy and autonomic function was investigated.

Methods

Forty-eight participants with long-term type 1 diabetes and confirmed distal symmetrical polyneuropathy were included. Palpebral fissure heights were measured bilaterally in response to topically applied 10% phenylephrine

SUBMITTER: Nielsen TA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9404365 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature