Journal of diabetes and its complications
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J. Diabetes Complicat. · Jan 1997
Comparative StudyPulse oximetry for the assessment of autonomic neuropathy in diabetic patients.
Altered vascular responses to various thermal stimuli correlate well with the changes of autonomic neuropathy. These responses were assessed by the use of pulse oximetry. Standard cardiac autonomic function tests were performed in normal subjects (n = 12), diabetic patients without autonomic neuropathy (n = 8), and diabetic patients with autonomic neuropathy (n = 7). ⋯ In diabetics with autonomic neuropathy, the rate of fall in percentage oxygen saturation was significantly slower (p < 0.0001), less intense (p < 0.0001) and with delayed subsequent recovery (p = 0.013), compared to normal subjects. Rebound rise in oxygen saturation was absent in all the diabetics with autonomic neuropathy, compared to 2 of 12 normal subjects (p < 0.0001). We conclude that pulse oximetry may be a potentially useful, simple, and noninvasive bedside method for assessment of diabetic autonomic neuropathy.