Cardiac autonomic neuropathy

Cardiac autonomic neuropathy is characterised by loss of function of the autonomic nerves supplying the heart. It can be detected by the presence of resting tachycardia, or the lack of a change in heart rate in response to dynamic manoeuvres such as the Valsalva manoeuvre or postural change.

In patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, cardiac autonomic neuropathy is an important risk factor for ischaemic heart disease and arrhythmia, both of which can cause sudden cardiac death. There is no specific treatment for cardiac autonomic neuropathy.