Autonomic nervous function in alcohol-related chronic pancreatitis

Patients with alcohol-related chronic pancreatitis (ARCP) often have periph eral neuropathy, but no data on the occurrence of autonomic neuropathy (AN) are available for this condition. To assess the autonomic function and the significance of its abnormalities for the prognosis of ARCP, 18 patients w ith ARCP and associated diabetes mellitus (P-DM group), 10 with ARCP withou t evidence of diabetes mellitus (P group), 17 patients with insulin-depende nt diabetes mellitus (IDDM group), and 18 healthy controls answered a struc tured questionnaire and underwent three standardized cardiovascular (CV) te sts that yielded six different parameters for autonomic nerve function. Pat ients with at least one symptom plus two abnormal results on CV tests were regarded as having AN. ARCP patients were followed up for 48 months and mor tality rates were recorded. The proportions of patients with AN were 66.6% in the P-DM group, 30.0% in the P group, and 29.4% in IDDM patients. Seven of 15 ARCP patients with AN died during follow-up, compared with one of 13 of those without AN (p < 0.037). In conclusion, AN is commonly found in ARC P patients and carries an ominous prognosis.