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Tactile directional sensibility and diabetic neuropathy
Author(s) -
Norrsell Ulf,
Eliasson Björn,
Frizell Martin,
Wallin B. Gunnar,
Wesslau Christian,
Olausson Håkan
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/mus.1174
Subject(s) - medicine , sensibility , nerve conduction velocity , neurology , diabetic neuropathy , peripheral neuropathy , nerve conduction , neurological examination , diabetes mellitus , audiology , surgery , endocrinology , art , literature , psychiatry
Five different procedures used to diagnose neuropathy were compared in a “blind” study with diabetic patients. The aim was to evaluate tests of tactile directional sensibility. Three matched groups were examined, two groups with type I diabetes, either with or without suspected neuropathy, and one of healthy controls. Testing consisted of: (1) examination by a specialist in neurology, (2) electrophysiologic measurement of nerve conduction velocity and determination of cool sensitivity, and (3) determination of directional sensibility in two stages, with categorical and quantitative techniques. Abnormal test results were obtained for both groups of diabetic patients. Quantitatively measured directional sensibility had the highest sensitivity (89%) and specificity (85%) when calculated for patients who had received a diagnosis of neuropathy from the neurologist, despite one case of abnormal directional sensibility among the healthy controls. Conduction velocity testing was almost comparably sensitive (80%) and cool sensitivity, comparably specific (85%) when calculated in the same manner. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Muscle Nerve 24: 1496–1502, 2001