Noninvasive autonomic function was assessed for sympathetic
adrenergic functions as peripheral vasoconstriction in response to cold stress test and postural adjustment ratio (PAR) and
cholinergic function as Valsalva ratio, represented by change in R-R intervals. Measurements were compared by analysis of variance and Spearman's correlation, and results were reported as mean ± standard error.
RESULTS: Plasma
norepinephrine (1902.7 ± 263.3; P = 0.001) and
epinephrine (224.5 ± 66.5; P = 0.008) levels, as well as plasma
dopamine levels (861.3 ± 381.7), and total plasma
catecholamine levels were highest for patients with
liver disease, who also had significant negative correlation between
norepinephrine level and vasoconstriction (P = 0.01; r = -0.5), PAR1 (P = 0.01; r = -0.5), sympathetic
adrenergic functions (P = 0.005; r = -0.6), total autonomic index (P = 0.01-0.5) and total autonomic function (P = 0.01; r = -0.2) and also negative correlation between
epinephrine plasma level and total autonomic function (P = 0.04; r = 0.4). DM patients were next highest in
norepinephrine level (133.26 ± 7.43), but lowest for plasma
catecholamine; a positive correlation between
dopamine level and PAR1 (P = 0.008; r = 0.6) was also seen in this group. Plasma
dopamine levels and spider score correlated negatively (P = 0.04; r = -0.5) and total plasma
catecholamine positively with
encephalopathy (P = 0.04; r = 0.5) in patients with
liver disease.
CONCLUSIONS: