IMPORTANCE OF SERUM-CHOLESTEROL LEVEL IN DEVELOPMENT OF DIABETIC AUTONOMIC NEUROPATHY

Changes of cardiac beat-to-beat variation (BBV) - an index of autonomi c nerve function - were examined on 2 occasions in an interval of 3.7- 5.9 years in 33 diabetics. A total of 204 healthy people, ranging from 11 to 88 years of age, were also subjected to the BBV measurement as controls. In diabetics, a lower rate of change of BBV than the control value was considered as deterioration. Glycohemoglobin was measured e very month. The mean of serum cholesterol on the 2 occasions nearest t o each time BBV examination was taken for the evaluation of cholestero l level. No significant difference was observed in the control state o f blood glucose in terms of glycohemoglobin between the groups with an d without BBV deterioration. In 20 subjects with normal cholesterol le vel, 11 showed a BBV deterioration, and in 13 subjects with abnormal c holesterol level 12 deteriorated in BBV. Therefore, diabetics with nor mal serum cholesterol level did not seem to exacerbate autonomic neuro pathy in terms of BBV.