Ultrasound Features of the Peroneal Nerve in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

The aim of the work is to study the ultrasound features of the peroneal nerves in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus and compare them with the symptoms of diabetic peripheral neuropathy and the characteristics of diabetes. The study included 67 patients (average age 59,4 ± 9.7 years) with type 2 diabetes mellitus duration least 7 years. All patients underwent standard general clinical and biochemical examinations, insulin and proinflammatory biomarkers blood levels were assessed. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy was diagnosed by assessing pain, tactile and vibration sensitivity. The presence and severity of neuropathic pain were determined on the basis of a DN4 questionnaire and a visual analog scale. All patients underwent ultrasound examination of the peroneal nerves: the cross-sectional area of the nerve, its echogenicity and structure were studied. The results of the study allow us to state in the overwhelming majority of people with a long course of type 2 diabetes mellitus and unsatisfactory glycemic control the presence of significant changes in peripheral nerves according to ultrasound examination (92,5 % of cases), including in the absence of clinical manifestations of diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Among patients with clinical manifestations of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (49,3 %), significant ultrasound changes in the peroneal nerves were more common than in those with no symptoms of this complication and correlated with the prescription of diabetes mellitus, glycated hemoglobin levels, age, manifestations of metabolic syndrome and the presence of other micro- and macrovascular complications. The study results suggest the possibility of wider use of peroneal nerves ultrasound examination for early diagnosis of diabetic peripheral neuropathy, its course prediction and, probably, can be used to improve the principles of choosing therapeutic tactics in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.