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Sympathetic skin response in diabetic peripheral neuropathy
Author(s) -
Niakan Enayat,
Harati Yadollah
Publication year - 1988
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.880110311
Subject(s) - medicine , sudomotor , orthostatic vital signs , valsalva maneuver , peripheral neuropathy , dysautonomia , peripheral , abnormality , cardiology , autonomic nervous system , diabetes mellitus , anesthesia , endocrinology , heart rate , blood pressure , disease , psychiatry
There were 72 diabetic patients with clinical evidence of sensorimotor peripheral neuropathy investigated to determine the sensitivity of the sympathetic skin response test (SSR) for detection of sudomotor dysfunction and its correlation with other autonomic function tests, autonomic symptoms, and degree of peripheral neuropathy. Nerve conduction velocities (NCV) were abnormal in all patients, SSR was absent in 60 of 72 patients (83%), Valsalva test was abnormal in 32 of 67 patients (48%) who had the test, and 6 of 72 (9%) had orthostatic hypotension. Statistically significant correlation was found between the Valsalva test abnormality, the degree of peripheral neuropathy, and the SSR in our patients. All patients with orthostatic hypotension had an absent SSR and an abnormal Valsalva test. Most patients had one or more autonomic signs or symptoms. Orthostatic dizziness only correlated with SSR, however. These results suggest that subdomotor activity detected by sympathetic skin response is a valuable test for investigation of dysautonomia in diabetic peripheral neuropathy.