[Autonomic neuropathy in diabetics, treatment possibilities]

Diabetic neuropathy is a chronic complication of diabetes. It involves non-inflammatory damage of the function and structure of peripheral nerves by metabolic vascular pathogenic processes. In case of affection of vegetative nerves (small non-myelinated C fibres) autonomic neuropathy develops. It is a relatively frequent form of neuropathy which remains for a long time without clinical symptoms and therefore is rarely diagnosed and treated. Manifestations of the affection are encountered in all organs which are supplied by vegetative nerves. The presence of this complication of diabetes is signalized by tachycardia at rest, deterioration of gastric evacuation, diabetic diarrhoea or constipation, erectile dysfunction, impaired function of the sweat glans or impaired pupillary reaction. The advanced form involves the danger of latent myocardial ischaemia, serious postural hypotension and sudden death. It increases significantly the mortality of the affected patients. Similarly as the treatment of other complication of diabetes, treatment of autonomic neuropathy is difficult. The objective of the present paper is to review contemporary therapeutic possibilities. An essential prerequisite remain efforts to achieve optimal compensation. The authors draw attention to the effect of alpha-lipoic acid which exerts a positive effect not only on subjective symptoms but also on the objective finding. The other mentioned drugs are used either only experimentally or for purely symptomatic treatment.