[Autonomic neuropathy in diabetes mellitus, chronic renal failure and liver cirrhosis].

Chronic diseases (diabetes mellitus, end stage renal failure on hemodialysis, post-hepatitic liver cirrhosis) caused autonomic neuropathy in 34 of 65 cases. The frequency of autonomic neuropathy was 14 of 30 diabetics (typ I and typ II), twelve of 19 patients on dialysis, and eight of 16 non-alcoholic liver cirrhotics. We did not find a correlation between the tests of the cardiovascular and of the gastrointestinal system. The distribution of the neuropathic changes was undependent of the underlying disorder. Using appropriate tests, alterations of the autonomic functions can be discovered frequently even in asymptomatic patients. At least two pathological test results are necessary to reach a significant difference between patients and healthy controls. This indicates that the diagnosis of autonomic neuropathy should rely on two or more pathological test results. The evidence of autonomic neuropathy identifies a population of high risk patients.