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Assessment of diabetic neuropathy: Definition of normal and discrimination of abnormal nerve function
Author(s) -
Claus Detlef,
Mustafa Constanze,
Vogel Wilfried,
Herz Matthias,
Neundörfer Bernhard
Publication year - 1993
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.880160711
Subject(s) - nerve conduction , medicine , sensory system , peripheral neuropathy , peripheral nerve , abnormality , nerve conduction velocity , quantitative sensory testing , diabetic neuropathy , physical medicine and rehabilitation , peripheral nervous system , nerve fiber , sural nerve , median nerve , nerve conduction study , audiology , anatomy , neuroscience , diabetes mellitus , psychology , endocrinology , central nervous system , psychiatry
One hundred one normal subjects and 46 patients were investigated. Various objective and subjective tests for polyneuropathies were compared. Motor and sensory nerve conduction velocities are the most sensitive tests. In normals, age hardly influenced nerve conduction velocities. This is believed to be a result of the strict exclusion criteria. Diagnostic sensitivity is also high with the vibration fork test and with vibratometry at the big toe. Results with the method of limits are as reliable and sensitive as more cumbersome techniques, such as the titration method and the forced choice method. Thermal thresholds and cardiovascular tests are less sensitive. The most correct overall classification is attained with a combination of tests reflecting the function of different nerve fiber classes in the peripheral and autonomic nervous systems.