[Cardiac autonomic neuropathy. Current realities and future outlook]

Cardiac autonomic neuropathy frequently affects Type 1 and Type 2 diabetic patients. This disease is distinguished by visible clinical consequences which can be tragic. It can also worsen a number of degenerative complications. Therefore, cardiac autonomic neuropathy seems to play a deciding role in silent ischaemia and in dysregulations of blood pressure. Clinical explorations continue to be based on the tests validated by Ewing, but the development of simple and reliable techniques seems to be an objective the interest of which cannot escape any clinician.