Correlation between oesophageal dysmotility and cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction in diabetic patients without gastrointestinal symptoms of autonomic neuropathy.

The vagal function was assessed by oesophageal scintigraphy and cardiovascular autonomic function tests in 65 diabetic patients without gastrointestinal symptoms of autonomic neuropathy and in 20 control subjects. Oesophageal radioisotope transit time was abnormal in 32% of diabetics. Values of cardiovascular function tests were normal in 34% of diabetics while definitive and early signs of cardiac autonomic neuropathy were found in 34% and 32% of diabetics, respectively. The results of oesophageal scintigraphy and cardiovascular function tests were concordant only in 54% of diabetics. Simultaneous impairment of oesophageal motility and cardiovascular (vagal) reflexes could be frequently but not uniformly observed in diabetics. Thus, vagal innervation of different organs (oesophagus and heart) might be affected to different degrees in diabetic patients.