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Elevated pain threshold in patients with asymptomatic diabetic neuropathy: an intraepidermal electrical stimulation study
Author(s) -
Suzuki Chieko,
Kon Tomoya,
Funamizu Yukihisa,
Ueno Tatsuya,
Haga Rie,
Nishijima Haruo,
Arai Akira,
Tomiyama Masahiko,
Baba Masayuki
Publication year - 2016
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.25158
Subject(s) - medicine , asymptomatic , nerve fiber , stimulation , sensation , threshold of pain , diabetic neuropathy , transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation , diabetes mellitus , sensory threshold , polyneuropathy , pathological , anesthesia , surgery , pathology , endocrinology , anatomy , neuroscience , psychology , alternative medicine , cognitive science
The loss of epidermal nerve fibers is regarded as an early pathological change in human diabetes. We investigated epidermal Aδ nerve fiber function by examining pain threshold by means of intraepidermal electrical stimulation (IES) in early diabetic neuropathy. Methods We recruited 20 asymptomatic diabetic patients. Eighteen age‐matched, healthy subjects served as controls. We placed the IES electrode onto the skin of the foot dorsum and delivered weak electrical stimulation. We defined pain threshold as the minimum electrical intensity at which a subject felt a pricking sensation. Results The mean pain thresholds in the patient group were significantly higher (0.053 ± 0.036 mA; P < 0.01) than in the control group (0.027 ± 0.006 mA). Conclusion We confirmed that the pain threshold was elevated in early diabetic neuropathy. We conclude that the IES electrode is a useful tool to evaluate early diabetic polyneuropathy. Muscle Nerve 54 : 146–149, 2016