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Unlabelled: The purpose of this study was to assess the blood pressure modifications in type 1 diabetic patients who present reduction of heart rate variability., Patients and Methods: This study included 70 type 1 diabetic patients (mean age: 42 +/- 13 years, diabetes duration: 13.2 +/- 9 years. They were free for complications and did not receive other treatment than insulin. Heart rate variability was evaluated using 24-h continuous ECG record spectral analysis. Patients were divided into two groups according to whether log high frequency power was lower (group 1, N=36) or higher (group 2, N=3 4) than 70 patients'mean. Clinical and biological features and 24-h ambulatory blood pressure measurement were compared in both groups., Results: Patients of group 1 were older than group 2 (47.8 +/- 11.2 vs. 35.7 +/- 12.2 years, p<0.0001) and diabetes duration was higher (16.9 +/- 8.4 vs. 9.4 +/- 8 years, p<0.001). BMI and Hb A1c did not differ from significant in both. Night-time blood pressure was upper in group 1 (SBP: 112 +/- 13 vs. 103 +/- 11 mmHg, p<0.01 and DBP: 66 +/- 8 vs. 60 +/- 7 mmHg, p<0.001). The difference between blood pressures during day and night (DeltaBP) were lower in group 1 than in group 2 (DeltaSBP: 10 +/- 9 vs. 15 +/- 7 mmHg, p<0.02 and DeltaDeltaBP: 9 +/- 7 vs. 12 +/- 5 mmHg, p<0.04). DSBP and DDBP were found to be correlated with log HF power (r=0.356, p<0.003), which could explain 11.8% and 12% of their variance. Urinary albumin excretion rate was higher in group 1 (8 +/- 4 vs. 5 +/- 3 mg/24h, p<0.01)., Conclusion: In type 1 diabetic patients free for complications, reduction in heart rate variability linked to age and diabetes duration is associated with a reduction in nighttime BP fall. These two parameters of autonomic neuropathy could have a pathogenic role in the development of incipient nephropathy.

Unlabelled: The new recommendations of the French national authority for health (or Haute Autorité de Santé: HAS) concerning management of high blood pressure (HBP) deserve to be compared with real clinical practices in a large population., Material and Methods: [corrected] EPIMIL is a prospective epidemiological study designed to assess the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and the risk factors in a 2045 French male military personnel coming from Paris area. The different recommendations of the HAS have been applied to these subjects, and the aim of this work is to compare these theoretical objectives to what is done in real practice., Results: Among these 2045 subjects aged of mean 38,6 +/- 8,8 years, 78 (4%) are known and treated for HPB. Although half of them present more than two associated risk factors, the means of systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure stay at high levels. The blood pressure (BP) targets established at 140/90 mmHg are only reached by 33 patients (42%). Among the 1967 subjects considered to have normal BP, the BP considered as optimal (120/80 mmHg) is only found in 695 subjects (35.3%) and 428 (21.7%) do present ignored or neglected HBP, in spite of the presence of important associated risk factors. Then, the cardiovascular risk stratification into levels, as recommended by the HAS, shows that for these subjects considered to have normal BP, risk is finally low for 6%, moderate for 12%, and high for 3.5%., Comments: In a selected and in theory regularly followed population, the recommendations of the HAS are insufficiently applied, as well for detection or treatment of HBP. Then, information of both medical personnel and also the interested parties should be necessary, in order to see these recommendations applied in real practice.

Unlabelled: Multi centre registries such as the French Acromegaly Registry created in 1999 provide data on rare disorders that are otherwise difficult to obtain. This study focuses on the characteristics of high blood pressure in people aged of over 70 years old., Patients and Methods: The data were obtained from the thirty centres where patients had been recorded on the Acromegaly Registry since 1999., Results: The Register listed a total of 644 patients with acromegaly at January 1st 2005, of whom 68 (22 men and 46 women) were aged over 70 years old (10.6%). Their mean age was 76.8 +/- 5 years (range 70 - 95) and they had been presenting acromegaly for 11 +/- 6 years (compared to 7 years in those aged less than 70). Their BMI were 27.9 +/- 4 kg/m2 for men, 27.7 +/- 4 for women (respectively 28.4 +/- 4.3 and 26.7 +/- 4.4 in those aged less than 70 years). Hypertension was particularly frequent in this population, reaching 80% vs. 27% under 70 years (p=0.0001). Prevalence was then higher than in general population (referring to FLAHS study). Mean blood pressure was 143 +/- 12 / 84 +/- 15 mmHg for men and 141 +/- 17 / 79 +/- 9 for women. 46% of men and 30% of women treated or not, had blood pressure over 140 / 90 mmHg. Data showed 12% of arrhythmic cardiopathy, 8% of cardiac insufficiency, 12% of ischemic cardiopathy and 12% of patients suffering from arteritis or stroke. Although various therapeutic strategies had been applied for young and elderly patients, 51% in each group were in remission one year after inclusion., Discussion: More than 10% of patients are aged over 70 years in the French Acromegaly Registry and hypertension is very frequently observed in this population. The increasing life expectancy due to currently available treatments justifies a strict management of patients in order to reduce cardiovascular risks, which stay the main cause of morbidity and mortality.

Unlabelled: The aim of this study was to assess the responsibility of night-time blood pressure in the onset of nephropathy in diabetic patients., Patients and Methods: This study included 98 diabetic patients (mean age: 54 +/- 15 years, diabetes duration: 15 +/- 10 years). An evaluation of diabetes and a 24-h ambulatory blood pressure were performed at the initial evaluation (Y0) and about five years later (Y5). At Y0, all patients had normal urinary albumin excretion (UAE) (<30 mg/24h). They were separated into two groups according to urinary albumin excretion at Y5: group (N +): UAE>30 mg/24h and group (N-): UAE<30 mg/24h. Twenty four hours ambulatory blood pressure, clinical and biological parameters recorded at Y0 were compared in both., Results: At Y5, there was 18 patients in group (N +) and 78 in group (N-). Patients of group (N +) were older than those of group (N-): 62.9 +/- 9.5 vs. 52.6 +/- 15.7 years, p<0.01, and their BMI was higher (28 +/- 5 vs. 25 +/- 4 kg/m2, p<0.03). Diabetes duration and Hb A1c levels did not differ from significant manner in both. At Y0, UAE was significantly higher in group (N +) than in group (N-): 13 +/- 7 vs. 8 +/- 6 mg/24h, p<0.01. At the initial evaluation, daytime systolic and diastolic blood pressures did not differ from significant manner in both. Systolic and diastolic BP night-time were higher in diabetic patients who developed microalbuminuria (SBP: 122 +/- 19 vs. 113 +/- 13 mmHg, p<0.05 and DBP: 70 +/- 6 vs. 65 +/- 10 mmHg, p<0.03). UAE collected at Y5 was correlated to night-time BP recorded at Y0 (SBP: r=0.381, p=0.001 and PAD: r=0.294, p=0.004) and night-time systolic BP explained 12.3% of the UAE variance. Progression of UAE between the two evaluations was found to be correlated to the night-time systolic BP recorded at Y0 (r=0.335, p=0.0008) and night-time systolic BP explained 11.7% of the progression variance. There was a negative correlation between UAE at A5 and the difference between daytime and night-time BP recorded during the same evaluation (r=- 0.230, p=0.024 with SBP and r=- 0.243, p=0.017 with DBP)., Conclusion: The results underlign the resposability of night-time blood pressure, and more especially of nighttime systolic blood pressure, for the onset of nephropathy in diabetic patients.

Unlabelled: The purpose of this study was to investigate blood pressure variations during diabetic incipient nephropathy and to evaluate theirs consequences for erythropoietin (EPO) production., Patients and Methods: This study included 94 diabetic patients (mean age: 59.9 +/- 15.3 years, diabetes duration: 13.8 +/- 15.3 years). Patients were divided in two groups according to urinary albumin excretion rate (UAE): group 1: UAE <30 mg/24 hrs, N=64 and group 2: 30

Unlabelled: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the circadian blood pressure and rinary albumin excretion (UAE) according to the type of diabetes over a 10-year period., Patients and Methods: This study is based on 43 diabetic patients, 24 type 1 and 19 type 2. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was used to assess blood pressure at the initial evaluation (A0) and about 10 years later (A10). UAE was also checked at 10 years interval and was <30 mg/day at A0., Results: At A0, ABPM and UAE did not differ in a significant manner between type 1 and type 2 diabetics. Type 2 diabetic patients were older than type 1 (59.7 +/- 15.4 vs 42.9 +/- 12.9; p<0.0001) but the age of diabetes did not differ between the 2 groups. Between A0 and A10, there was an increase in 24 h SBP of type 1 and type 2 diabetics (type 1: 114 +/- 10 vs 124 +/- 12 mmHg; p<0.01 and type 2: 113 +/- 19 vs 135 +/- 13 mmHg; p<0.0001). 24 h DBP, as well as BP differences (day-night) did not differ between the 2 evaluations. At A10, 24 h SBP was higher in type 2 than in type 1 (135 +/- 13 vs 124 +/- 12 mmHg; p<0.001) but differences between day and night BP were not significant. In type 1 diabetes, progression of SBP was not associated with an increase in UAE rate, while this rate increased in type 2 betwwen A0 and A10 (9 +/- 7 vs 70 +/- 101 mg/24 h; p<0.01). AT A10, UAE was higher in type 2 than in type 1 diabetes (70 +/- 101 vs 14 +/- 31 mg/24 h; p<0.02). In type 2 diabetes, the progression of UAE was correlated with SBP at A10 (r=0.495; p<0.03)., Conclusion: The increase in BP levels and in UAE rate differ between type 1 and type 2 diabetes and these differnces are not due to patients age, nor to modifications in BP curves. They are probably linked to a physiopathology which could be more complex in type 2 than in type 1 diabetes.

Unlabelled: Previous studies suggest that a low urinary flow rate may reduce the capacity of the kidney to excrete sodium and could thus favour hypertension. In the present study, we evaluated the relationships between urinary flow rate (V) during day (D) and night (N), blood pressure (BP), and the day-night BP difference (delta in % of day BP) in 65 diabetic patients (glycosuria < 90 mmol/24 h) (35 F and 30 M, age 59 +/- 2 y) hospitalized for a 24 h urine collection and mean ambulatory blood pressure recording (AMBP). Urine was collected as two separate samples during D (8:00 am to 10:00 pm) and N (10:00 pm to 8:00 am). V, sodium excretion (NaEx) and mean systolic and diastolic BP (SBP and DBP, respectively) were calculated for the two periods. Patients were a posteriori classified according to the D/N ratio of V, and the mean values of 3 tertiles (T1, T2, T3, n = 22, 22, and 21 subjects) were calculated and compared by ANOVA (see table; *: p < 0.05; **: p < 0.01; ***: p < 0.001). [table: see text] Although total 24 h urine volume was similar in the three tertiles (1,670, 1,927 and 2,007 mL, NS), the fraction of urine excreted during D and N differed widely, with parallel differences in NaEx. With lower V during the day, BP tended to be higher and the fall in nocturnal BP to be reduced., Conclusions: This study shows the advantages of separate day and night urine collections in relation with AMBP. For a similar total diuresis, some subjects exhibit a too low urine flow rate and too low NaEx during the day, and a compensatory rise during the night. This low diurnal diuresis is associated with a higher blood pressure and a lower nocturnal fall (= nocturnal pressure diuresis). The factors responsible for a too low diuresis during the day need further investigation.

Unlabelled: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between 24-h BP profil and erythropoietin level in diabetics., Patients and Methods: This study included 58 patients (26 women and 32 men, mean age: 58.7 +/- 14.6 yrs, diabetes duration: 16 +/- 11.2 yrs). Patients were divided by 24 hrs ABPM into 2 groups, one in which night-time pressures dipped by more than 10% (dippers, n = 16) and the other in which pressures dipped by less than 10% (non-dippers, n = 42) when compared to daytime pressures. Haemoglobin (Hb) and erythropoietin (EPO) levels where compared between diabetics and a control group (n = 110) and between dippers and non-dippers., Results: Hb concentration of diabetics was significantly lower than those of control subjects (13.5 +/- 1.5 vs 14.5 +/- 1 g/dL; p < 0.0001) but EPO levels did not differ from significant manner between these two groups. EPO concentrations were lower in dippers than in control subjects (13.7 +/- 5.4 vs 17.9 +/- 5 mU/mL; p < 0.01), but there was not significant difference in Hb levels. Non-dippers had a Hb level lower than dippers (13.1 +/- 1.5 vs 14.6 +/- 1.1 g/dL, p < 0.0001), but EPO concentrations did not differ from significant manner. Hb was correlated with between daytime and night-time BP difference (SBP: r = 0.262; p < 0.05 and DBP: r = 0.396; p < 0.002). Hb was negatively correlated with albumin excretion rate (r = -0.335, p < 0.01) and with creatinine level (r = -0.419: p < 0.001)., Conclusion: These data indicated that EPO production could be impaired in diabetics with abnormal diurnal BP variation. Nephropathy and cardiac autonomic dysfunction could explain these results.

The aim of this study was to analyse over a four years period the blood pressure rise according to the type of diabetes. The study population was composed of 79 diabetic patients (type 1: 36; type 2: 43). An evaluation of diabetes mellitus is undertaken at a four years interval (A0, A4). In the same time, blood pressure level is assessed using clinic BP and 24 h-ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). Type 2 diabetic patients were older than type 1 (60.9 +/- 9.5 vs 43.5 +/- 12.5 years, p < 0.001). The two groups did not differ in body mass index, tobacco consumption, diabetes duration, glycemic control and serum creatinine. Hypertension was more frequent in type 2 diabetes (46.5 vs 11.1%, p < 0.01) and baseline systolic but not diastolic casual BP was significantly higher in type 2 diabetes compared with type 1 (142 +/- 14 vs 132 +/- 15 mmHg, p < 0.01). Between A0 and A4 the increase in type 1 and type 2 diabetics casual BP was not significant. Type 1 diabetic patients 24 h-ABPM did not differ from significant manner at A0 and at A4. Type 2 diabetic subjects had an increase in 24 h and night time SBP (24 h: 123 +/- 14 at A0 vs 130 +/- 16 mmHg at A4, p < 0.05; night time: 116 +/- 15 at A0 vs 125 +/- 17 mmHg at A4, p < 0.02). This reduction in nocturnal BP fall was not associated with an increase in diabetes complications frequency. BP evolution seems to be closely linked to the type of diabetes and to patients age. In this study, frequency of diabetes complications does not increase when BP level is lower than references values for ABPM.

Abnormal pattern of circadian blood pressure variations carries a high risk of cardiovascular complications. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of abnormal blood pressure rhythm in diabetes and its consequences on micro and macrovascular complications. 484 diabetes mellitus patients were submitted to 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. They were divided into two groups according to the absence (non-dipper: group 1; n = 167) or presence (dipper: group 2; n = 317) of nocturnal BP reduction = 10% of daytime BP. Following data were collected and compared between these two groups: body mass index, glycated haemoglobin, urinary albumin excretion, research of retinopathy by fundoscopy, tests for presence of a macrovascular disease. There were no significant differences among the two groups in sex, body mass index, type and duration of diabetes and glycemic control. Clinical SBP and DBP did not differ from significant manner between non-dipper and dipper (140 +/- 18/81 +/- 1 versus 138 +/- 19/81 +/- 10 mmHg). Non-dipper 24-h SBP and 24-h DBP were higher than those of dipper (129 +/- 16/76 +/- 9 versus 122 +/- 15/73 +/- 8 mmHg; p < 0.001). Non-dipper were older than dipper (59.9 +/- 13 versus 55.8 +/- 15 years; p < 0.001) and there was more hypertensive patients in group 1 than in group 2 (50% versus 39%; p < 0.01). Macro- and microvascular diabetes complications were more common in non-dipper. In conclusion high blood pressure is frequently observed in diabetic patients. Its association with a diminished nocturnal BP fall could explain a higher risk of complications, especially retinopathy, nephropathy and cardiac events.

The evaluation of the real blood pressure in the diabetic population has a major interest. Arterial blood pressure measure during standardised exercise test could be a supplementary aid in this field of research. This retrospective work is based on 134 diabetic patients compared with age, sex and body mass index matched controls. All of them were tested with a standardised protocol of bicycle ergometer. In the diabetic group, 62 patients present a microalbuminuria over 30 mg/day. The heart rate and arterial pressure do not differ between diabetics and controls before, during, and after the exercise. The registered parameters at the top of the effort are exactly the same for the pulse the systolic and the diastolic blood pressure. Systolic blood pressure gradient during effort is not different between the two groups. The presence of microalbuminuria into the diabetic group do not provoke any modification of cardiac frequency or pressure during the effort. Nevertheless a decrease in systolic blood pressure gradient is noted into the microalbuminuria group despite their older age is in favour of an increase in this parameter. Exercise test has a main place to track down coronary disease and the field of interest is the same that non diabetic patients to find white coat hypertension, to value arterial pressure reactivity during effort of hypertensive athletes or border line hypertensives. The signification and interest of the modification of systolic blood pressure gradient should to be evaluated by other works.

Unlabelled: Cardiac autonomic neuropathy is a frequent complication of diabetes leading to resting tachycardia, postural hypotension, painless myocardial ischaemia, rhythm disturbances and sudden cardiac death. The aim of the study was to evaluate in a diabetic population the sensitivity of two exploration modes of autonomic neuropathy in diabetics: the Ewing tests which are, at present time, the reference method and the (123-I) meta-iodo-benzyl-guanidine (MIBG) single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) which evaluates the cardiac sympathetic innervation., Patients and Methods: 9 male insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients were studied. Mean age was 40.7 +/- 15 years and diabetes duration was 10.8 +/- 6 years. None had hypertension or macroangiography as demonstrated by patient's history, clinical examination, rest and exercise electrocardiography and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. The complications observed were background retinopathy in 2 patients, incipient nephropathy in 3 and a peripheral neuropathy in 1 patient. Ewing tests, i.e. Valsalva maneuver, beat to beat heart rate variation during deep breathing and standing, blood pressure response to standing and to sustained handgrip, were performed. The results were considered as pathologic when the score was over 2. After injection of 10 mCi (123-I) MIBG, planar images were realized at times 1, 2 and 4 hours and SPECT images after 2 hours. The heart/mediastinum uptake ratio was calculated., Results: We noted abnormalities of planar images in 3 patients, SPECT images in 1, and both in 1 patient. None was positive for Ewing tests., Conclusion: Although MIBG SPECT will explore only the sympathetic innervation, these preliminary findings suggest that this technique could be more sensitive for the evaluation of cardiac autonomic neuropathy. Nevertheless cost and lack of disponibility of this technique should limit its use.

Background: It has been established that hypertension prevalence rate was higher in American Blacks than Whites or Mexicans. And hypertension is more frequent in diabetics. The prevalence of hypertension among diabetic African Blacks is not well documented., Methods: A total of 550 diabetic patients attending to Central Hospital of Yaounde (Cameroon) were followed between 1990 and 1994. The 1993 WHO criteria were used to define hypertension (systolic blood pressure (SBP) > or = 140 or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) > or = 90 mmHg. We also have considered as hypertensive patients being treated with an antihypertensive medication before inclusion. All quantitative data are given as means +/- SD., Results: For the whole study population characteristics were: age (at inclusion): 54.2 +/- 12.8 yrs: sex distribution: 341 men for 209 women (sex ratio: 1.63:1); known duration of diabetes: 5.7 +/- 5.6 yrs; Body Mass Index (BMI): 24.4 +/- 4.8 kg/m2. They are dividing into 136 IDDM, 405 NIDDM and 9 other types. In normotensive patients, blood pressure levels were: SBP 117 +/- 11 and DBP 75 +/- 8 mmHg, while in hypertensive: SBP 156 +/- 23 and DBP 95 +/- 13 mmHg. The difference between normo and hypertensive diabetics was significant (p > or = 0.001). Characteristics of hypertensive group were: age: 57 +/- 11.2 yrs, sex repartition 229 men for 136 women (sex ratio: 1.68:1), BMI: 24.9 +/- 4.8 kg/m2, diabetes classification: 63 IDDM, 297 NIDDM and 5 other types. According to recent WHO criteria (140/90) 365 subjects/550 were found to have high blood pressure, giving an overall prevalence of hypertension of 66.4% in the study population. Using former WHO definition (160/95) the prevalence was 42.2%. There was no statistical difference for prevalence between male (67.2%) and female (65.1%). But the difference was strongly significant (p < 0.001) between IDDM (46.3%) and NIDDM (73.3%)., Discussion: Hypertension prevalence studies in Africa have shown varying results (2.5-30%), with higher rates in urban than rural population. In African studies hypertension prevalence rates in diabetes were reported in the range 13-44%. The result of the present study is very near the high limit of known data in Africa., Conclusion: Such a prevalence rate of 66.4% in this Cameroonian diabetic population appears to be high, particularly in patients with NIDDM. These considerations bring to light the question of sensitiveness of African Blacks to hypertension when exposed to high blood pressure risk factors such as inadequate food and diabetes.

In this work, we developped the ERK (Eckmann, Ruelle and Khamporst) method of recurrent plots to analyse Heart Rate Variability (HRV), measured by the FINAPRES system in diabetic subjects. Our aim was to search some indices that might characterize the degree of dysautonomy detected in diabetic subjects, using the Ewing tests. The idea was to analyze the recurrences of the HR to previously observed values. When a value of HR, xi measured at the j-th beat come back to an already observed value, we compare the distances between the following measures (xi + 1 to xj + 1), (xj + 2 to xj + 2)... If the distances are under a given criteria during k beats, xi is deterministic of order k. Let n1 be the number of recurrent points and nk the number of k-order deterministic points, with k = 2, 3, 4... We defined the index of determinism nk + 1/nk and the Shannon entropy of the Nk = nk-nk + 1. These indices will be correlated to the total score of the 5 Ewing tests, which represent the standard measure to evaluate the diabetic dysautonomy. Blood pressure (BP) and HR were measured during about 30 minutes using the FINAPRES system in 44 healthy subjects and 60 non-hypertensive diabetic subjects. In the diabetic subjects, the age, the body weight and systolic and diastolic BP were 56 +/- 13 years (mean +/- standard-deviation), 79 +/- 14 kg, 80 +/- 10 mmHg and 137 +/- 20 mmHg. HR was weakly correlated to age (r = 0.29; p = 0.02) and the Ewing score (r = 0.31; p = 0.01). Its standard-deviation is also weakly correlated to age (r = 0.32; p = 0.01) and to the Ewing score (r = 0.34; p = 0.01). Using the ERK method, we obtained indices which are much more correlated to the Ewing score. In particular, the ratio n2/n1 and Shannon entropy were correlated to the Ewing score with r = 0.51 and r = 0.53, respectively (p < 0.0001 in both cases). These indices are also correlated to age (r = 0.40; p = 0.003) in both cases. The ERK method give some indices which are easy to obtain (measurement of HR during a rest period) and easy to interpret. These indices are strongly linked to the dysautonomy score which required a good cooperation of the patient and a great vigilance during its execution. This method could be applied to BP to explore BP regulation in hypertensive subjects.

Unlabelled: The purpose of this study is to compare over a three year period blood pressure modifications of type 2 diabetic subjects who suffer of incipient nephropathy to those who remain unharmed of this complication., Patients and Method: This study population is composed of 83 normotensive (BP < 140/90 mmHg) type 2 diabetic patients not receiving cardio-vascular treatment and unharmed of nephropathy (microalbuminuria inferior to 30 mg/24 hours). An evaluation of the diabetes mellitus is undertaken at a three year interval (A0 and A3). These 83 subjects are distributed in two groups according to the 24 hours microalbuminuria rate at A3. In group I (n = 60), patients whose rate is lower than 30 mg/24 hours and in group II (n = 23), patients whose microalbuminuria is over 30 mg. For these two groups, the following elements are compared at A0 and A3: body mass index (BMI), systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), serum creatinine, cholesterol and triglycerides., Results: The two groups do not differ in age (57.1 +/- 12 vs 53.8 +/- 16.4 years), duration of diabetes mellitus (11.7 +/- 8.6 vs 13.3 +/- 10.4 years) or body mass index (25.9 +/- 3.8 vs 26.2 +/- 4 kg/m2). At the time of the initial evaluation at A0, none of the studied parameters shows a significant difference between the two populations. Comparison of statements undertaken at A3 shows that blood pressure of Group II patients is higher than in group I, but the difference is only significant for systolic blood pressure (132 +/- 12 vs 139 +/- 11 mmHg; p < 0.01). The balance of diabetes mellitus, serum creatinine and lipid levels do not differ between these two groups. The blood pressure level of Group I doesn't differ significantly at A0 and A3 (128 +/- 11 vs 132 +/- 12 mmHg for SBP; 77 +/- 9 vs 78 +/- 7 mmHg for DBP). On the contrary, patients who develop a nephropathy see their blood pressure increase, but only SBP has a significant risk (128 +/- 12 vs 139 +/- 11 mmHg; p < 0.01). Apparition of a microalbuminuria and increase of blood pressure of Group II are not accompanied by a significant variation of serum creatinine., Conclusion: This study shows that for normotensive type 2 diabetic patients the transition from normo to microalbuminuria is associated with increases in systollic blood pressure. This blood pressure modification occur early, contemporary of the apparition of microalbuminuria, but relationship of causality between this two factors remains to be specified.

Methods: 62 diabetic patients of both sex (age: 46 +/- 16 yr, BMI: 26.1 +/- 4 kg/m2, casual blood pressure: 134 +/- 17/81 +/- 11 mmHg, mean age of diabetes: 11 +/- 9 yr) without cardiovascular medications were recruited. Autonomic involvement was based on the results from a battery of five cardiovascular tests as suggested by Ewing. The result of each test and a scoring system was considered. All patients underwent power spectral analysis (PSA) of digital blood pressure (BP) and RR intervals recorded in the recumbent position and after tilting with a Finapres monitor. The percentage of total power (0.025-0.4 Hz) computed in the low-frequency band (0.070-0.139 Hz) computed in the low-frequency band (0.070-0.139 Hz) was chosen as a sympathetic index (sigma Ind). Results of tests were correlated with sigma Ind., Results: 24 patients (39%) have an autonomic involvement. The most affected tests are: the Valsalva maneuver (VAL): 16% RR response from lying to standing (LS): 25%, sustained handgrip (SHG): 30%, postural hypotension (PH); 57%, deep breathing (DB): 87%. Correlations coefficients of cardiovascular tests and sigma Ind are: VAL/sigma Ind (SBP tilt): r = 0.277, p = 0.029; Val/sigma Ind (DBP tilt): r = 0.318, p = 0.012; VAL/sigma Ind (RR tilt): ns. PH/Ind sigma (SBP tilt): r = 0.391, p = 0.0017; PH/sigma Ind (DBP tilt): r = -0.296, p = 0.019; PH/sigma Ind (RR tilt): r = -0.308, p = 0.015, DB/sigma Ind (SBP tilt): r = 0.417, p = 0.0007; DB/sigma Ind (DBP tilt): r = 0.361, p = 0.0039; DB/sigma Ind (RR tilt): ns. Results of LS and SHG show no correlation with Ind sigma. Correlations between global autonomic score (GAS) and sigma Ind during tilting have the following values: GAS/sigma Ind (SBP tilt): r = -0486, p = 0.0001; GAS/sigma Ind (DBP tilt): r = -0.385, p = 0.002; GAS/sigma Ind (RR tilt): r = -0.411, p = 0.0009., Conclusions: The so-called sympathetic index computed from PSA are well correlated with autonomic tests. They allow an early detection of sympathetic involvement in diabetics patients. These results are to consider while managing these subjects.

The aim of this study was to analyse the role of cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) in the changes of Blood-Pressure (BP) variability among insulin-dependent diabetics and to determine the relationship between BP variability and diabetic complications. Ambulatory BP monitoring was performed during 24 hours on 93 insulin-dependent diabetics and 77 normal subjects of similar age (Group 1). CAN was assessed by the cardiovascular autonomic function tests described by Ewing and the diabetics were divided in two groups: Group 2 including patients without CAN (n = 46) and Group 3 including patients with CAN (n = 47). The 24 h standard deviation (variability) and the day/night difference for systolic and diastolic BP were calculated for each subjects. Systolic and diastolic BP variability is more elevated in Group 3 than in the other groups during the diurnal period. Furthermore, the day/night difference of systolic and diastolic BP is lower in Group 3 compared to groups 2 and 3. Diabetic complications are also more frequently observed among diabetic patients with CAN (p < 0.001). So CAN seems to have two types of consequences on BP curve among diabetic patients: a decrease of day/night BP difference which can be responsible of relative hypertension during the night and an increase of BP variability. As frequency of diabetic retinopathy and nephropathy is more elevated among diabetic patients with CAN, it is possible that CAN plays a role in the occurrence of these complications. Therefore, a simple juxtaposition of these facts is also possible.

We applied a simplified version of the method suggested by Sugihara-May (Nature 1990: 344: 734-41) to study the control of heart rate (HR) in subjects with diabetes mellitus. The method aims to predict the future of an observation, if a series of observations on the same phenomenon is available. The method quantifies the fact that the series is predictable more or less longtime in the future. A random series is only shortly predictable in the future. HR and blood pressure were measured from beat to beat (by the Finapres system) for about 0.5 hours in 11 subjects with diabetes mellitus and normal blood pressure (group D) and in 10 controls subjects (group N). The subjects were sitting in a temperature-controlled quiet room, isolated from all external stimuli. The 2 groups were matched for age, and had the same weight and height. No difference was observed in mean-value and standard deviation (SD) of BP and HR between the 2 groups. Groups N/D: SBP = 112 +/- 11/123 +/- 11 mmHg, NS; DBP = 64 +/- 9/67 +/- 12 mmHg, NS; HR = 70 +/- 10/69 +/- 7 b/min, NS. Standard deviation of PAS = 5.5 +/- 1.6/5.7 +/- 1.9 mmHg, NS and SD of DBP = 3.5 +/- 0.9/3.4 +/- 1.2 mmHg, NS. The SD of HR (3.0 +/- 0.5/2.3 +/- 1.0 b/min in groups N/D) was somewhat lower in diabetics than in control subjects but the difference was not significant.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Unlabelled: Nocturnal hypertension (HTA), even a relative one, consequence of the change of the circadian pattern of blood pressure, may increase the whole day blood pressure in diabetic patients., Materials and Methods: blood pressure has been measured every 15 minutes for 24 hours in 101 diabetic patients (43 insulin-dependent: type 1, 58 non insulin-dependent: type 2) by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. 39 of them are hypertensive patients. Among these 101 patients, 19 have a nocturnal relative HTA corresponding in a lack or a negative difference between the diurn and the nocturn systolic or diastolic pressure (Group 1). The Group 2 is constituted by the 82 other patients; 24 hour-microalbuminuria was assayed by immunoturbidimetry for two days on end., Results: patients of Group 1 were significantly older (p less than 0.01) than in the Group 2 (61 +/- 9 years vs 54 +/- 13 years). There was no significant change between the two Groups concerning the kind of diabetes (type 1 or type 2), the glycosylated hemoglobin and the frequency of degenerative complications. Microalbuminuria was significantly higher (p less than 0.01) in Group 1 (72 +/- 104 mg/24 h) than in Group 2 (20 +/- 30 mg/24 h). Both nervous dysautonomic cardiac failure and HTA treated were significantly higher in Group 1 than in Group 2, respectively (14/19 vs 28/82; p less than 0.01) and (15/19 vs 24/82; p less than 0.001). The causal blood pressure measurement was similar in the two Groups, but the whole day ambulatory blood pressure monitoring revealed a significant increase of the average of systolic (Group 1: 133 +/- 14 mmHg vs Group 2: 119 +/- 12 mmHg; p less than 0.001) and diastolic (Group 1: 81 +/- 12 mmHg vs Group 2: 75 +/- 8 mmHg; p less than 0.01) blood pressure during 24 hours., Comments: the causal blood pressure measurement fails to appreciate the increase of the whole day blood pressure consequent to the suppression of nocturnal hypotension and sometimes to the occurrence of real nocturnal hypertension. This observation is probably in relation with the nervous dysautonomic cardiac failure and is associated with an increase of the microalbuminuria (patients with microalbuminuria greater than 30 mg/24 h--Group 1: 9/19 vs Group 2: 17/82; p less than 0.05). This situation can lead to an aggravation of degenerative complications. Such results should urge practitioners to assess the circadian pattern of blood pressure in diabetic patients more accurately.

Unlabelled: The use of the Spacelabs blood pressure recorder has given rise to processing programs running on Apple II and IBM PC computers. The authors have written in M.S. BASIC (2.1) a program who take advantage of graphic abilities and easy manipulation on Macintosh. The software was designed to perform three tasks: Communicating between Macintosh and Spacelabs station using serial interface (RS 232) without requesting specific interface card. Editing a report on two pages: The first is the listing of 96 measurements (one by 15 minutes). The second provides: patient identification, height, weight, diagnosis. Graphic representation of measurements Systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) repartition histogram for 24 hours, day and night. Standard deviation and mean of pressure and heart rate (HR) for those periods. A third optionally gives hourly chronogram and diagrams for cumulated BP and HR. Creating a file: 550 records can be stored on a 800 K floppy disk. The file handles: data for each patient (excepted identification). Random access and revision of each parameter is possible., Synthesis: comparative reports for group patients and patient by patient analysing data with appropriate statistical test (ANOVA and correlation) are done.

Unlabelled: The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of autonomic cardiovascular neuropathy (ACN) on blood pressure control in diabetic patients., Methods: a nyctohemeral blood pressure (BP) monitoring (Spacelabs 5200) and an assessment of ACN, graded with a scoring system depending on usual test (Valsalva maneuver, heart response to deep breathing, blood pressure response to standing up and sustained handgrip) were performed in 90 normotensive male subjects. Thirty controls, age: 49 +/- 13 years, weight: 72 +/- 12 kg, height: 174 +/- 6 cm and 60 diabetic patients, type 1 or 2, age: 52 +/- 13 years, weight: 75 +/- 12 kg, height: 174 +/- 6 cm were recruited., Results: mean BP levels recorded on 24 hours (control: 117 +/- 13/75 +/- 9 mmHg, diabetic: 119 +/- 12/74 +/- 7 mmHg), BP variability measured with the coefficient of variation (SD/mean) (control: syst = 13 +/- 4, diast = 15 +/- 4; diabetic: syst = 12 +/- 3, diast = 14 +/- 4), differences between mean BP on day-time (9 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.) and mean BP on night-time (10:30 p.m. - 7:30 a.m.) (control: syst = 16 +/- 10 mmHg, diast = 11 +/- 8 mmHg; diabetic: syst = 13 +/- 10 mmHg, diast = 10 +/- 7 mmHg) are not statistically different. It is the same with heart rate. Two control and 11 diabetic subjects have impaired ACN tests. Among diabetic subjects, impairment of autonomic nervous cardiovascular system is correlated with abnormal BP pattern (loss of nocturnal fall, paradoxical nocturnal rise seen in 15 patients).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Purpose: Evaluating Blood Pressure Monitoring contribution at rest to the diagnosis and pathophysiology of borderline (BL) hypertension in the twenties., Method: a nycthemeral blood pressure recording each 15 minute has been performed during the 48 first hours of hospitalisation on two groups of white twenties males with a Dinamap: 143 CONTROLS. Mean age: 21.1 +/- 2 yrs, mean height: 177 +/- 7 cm, mean weight: 71 +/- 11 kg; 104 BL hypertensive patients. Mean age: 21 +/- 2 yrs, mean height: 178 +/- 7 cm, mean weight: 78 +/- 12 kg. Mean BP recording levels are smaller than casual measurements in two groups: CONTROLS (Casual BP: 125/71, BP recording on 24 hours: 117/60, day time: 121/63, nighttime: 110/54 mmHg). BL hypertensives (Casual BP: 144/83, BP recording on 24 h: 132/69, daytime: 137/73, nighttime: 121/60 mmHg). Nycthemeral BP variability measured by the standard deviation of mean pressure is not different in two groups for systolic variability, it significantly differs for diastolic variability (BL: 7.6/CONTROLS: 5.5, p less than 0.01). Correlations between casual BP and diurnal records are stronger in controls than in BL patients showing a lower predictive value of clinical assessment in BL patients. Though the same heart rate at sleep, BP is significantly higher in BL than in controls. It probably means that factors different from sympathetic activity are involved in pathophysiology of borderline hypertension. The whole measurement study on 24 hours of two groups show an important overlap (the 65th percentile in BL systolic BP correspond with the 95th of controls, the 74th percentile in BL diastolic BP correspond with the 95th in controls). That make difficult the recording evaluation for a given patient.