Microneurographically determined muscle sympathetic nerve activity levels are reproducible in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

Our objective was to determine whether microneurographically determined mus cle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) levels are equally reproducible in co ntrol and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) subjects. We used a re trospective review of MSNA levels in 14 IDDM and 16 control subjects who ha d at least two microneurographic studies in the last 8 years in our laborat ory. Results showed mean MSNA levels were lower in IDDM (9.2 +/- 1.2 bursts /min) than in control subjects (16.8 +/- 1.7 bursts/min) (p < 0.002) but me an within individual MSNA coeffients (IDDM: 47 +/- 8%; controls 30 +/- 5%) and ranges of variation (IDDM: 6.6 +/- 1.9; controls: 7.5 +/- 1.9 bursts/mi n) did not differ between IDDM and control subjects. Thus, microneurographi cally determined MSNA levels are equally reproducible in IDDM and controls subjects. These results confirm and substantiate our previous findings of d iminished MSNA in IDDM subjects. (Journal of Diabetes and Its Complications 12;6:307-310, 1998.) (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.