Early Diagnosis Of Diabetic Polyneuropathy Research Articles

Behavior of neuropathy symptom score and neuropathy disability score in patients with and without peripheral diabetic neuropathy: A retrospective cohort study

BackgroundThis study aimed to stablish cut-off of early diagnosis of diabetic polyneuropathy (PDN) based on neuropathy symptom score (NSS) and neuropathy disability score (NDS); to determine the behavior of NDD and NDS in patients with and without PDN; and to verify the association between clinical and demographic variables with both tests. MethodsThis retrospective cohort included 86 patients with diabetes. The NSS and NDS evaluations were collected in medical records in two moments: initial (entry into service) and final (after three years). Individuals were categorized in three groups: G1- PDN in both evaluations (N = 27); G2- PDN only in the final evaluation (N = 16); G3-individuals without PDN (N = 43). A ROC curve was performed to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of NSS and NDS for PDN diagnosis. ANOVA was used to compare NSS and NDS between groups and evaluations, and multiple regression was performed to find predictors of PDN. ResultsThe NSS and NDS showed excellent sensitivity and specificity (NDS ≥1.5 and NSS ≥6.5) for PDN diagnosis. There was a significant difference between groups in initial (p = 0.000) and final (p = 0.000) NDS and NSS evaluations. There was an association between peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and increase in NSS (p = 0.024) in G2; and association between loss of protective sensation (LOPS) and increase in NSS in G3 (p < 0.001). ConclusionNSS and NDS tests showed excellent sensitivity and specificity for early PDN diagnosis. Behavior of both tests can differ patients with and without PDN. Furthermore, PAD and LOPS can be a predictor of PDN evolution.

P.102 Role of interdigital sensory nerve conduction study as a noninvasive approach for early diagnosis of diabetic peripheral neuropathy

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a common cause of polyneuropathy. Despite numerous diagnostic tools such as routine electrophysiologic procedures, its early detection is challenging. This study compares a distal electrodiagnostic technique, with conventional approaches to investigate its role in confirming early polyneuropathy. Methods: Thirty-one symptomatic diabetic outpatients and 23 asymptomatic nondiabetic subjects were included in our study. We performed nerve conduction studies on the dorsal sural, medial plantar, and digital branches of the interdigital nerves to toes I, II, and III (as a new antidromic technique). All techniques were applied with the surface stimulator and pick-up electrodes. Results: Only 9 (29%) of patients had impaired routine NCSs. Interestingly, the results of interdigital nerve studies were abnormal in 17 out of 22 patients with normal routine NCSs. Also, 11 and 13 subjects had impaired medial plantar and dorsal sural nerves conduction studies, respectively. According to this method, the prevalence of detectable diabetic neuropathy increased from 46% to 83%. Conclusions: The digital sensory branches can be easily evaluated with the new antidromic SNAP technique for the early diagnosis of diabetic polyneuropathy, especially in presymptomatic and subclinical neuropathies. This method is simple, non-invasive, sensitive, and reproducible. There is no need for needle electrodes or averaging techniques.

Clinical and laboratory markers of early diagnosis of diabetic polyneuropathy

Objective. To study the content of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and tropomyosin receptor of type B kinase (TrkB) in patients at an early stage of diabetic polyneuropathy. Late diagnosis of diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) is largely due to the presence of a subclinical stage, at which damage to the nervous system develops in the absence of complaints from the patient.&#x0D; Materials and methods. 64 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and 11 persons of the control group were examined with an assessment of the pain status and the degree of peripheral neuropathy using PainDetect, TSS, NSS, NDS scales. Disturbance of nerve conduction along the nerves of the lower extremities was studied using electroneuromyography (ENMG). The study of the quantitative content of BDNF and TrkB in the serum was carried out with enzyme immunoassay.&#x0D; Results. The increased serum concentrations of BDNF (p = 0.001) and TrkB (p = 0.007) were found with the development of clinically evident DPN as compared to patients without DPN. In patients with diabetes mellitus with subclinical DPN, there was established a statistically significant increase in serum BDNF expression (2.97 [2.44; 3.37] ng/ml in comparison with the values both in the control group (p = 0.022) and in diabetic patients without DPN (p = 0.017). The mean TrkB level in this group was 4.29 [3.48; 5.62] ng/ml, that is also higher than the corresponding values for patients without DPN (p = 0.032) and the control group (p = 0.025). The serum BDNF level correlates with the duration of diabetes mellitus (R = 0.524; p = 0.02), the intensity of neuropathic pain (R = 0.402; p = 0.001), the degree of axonal damage according to ENMG data (R = -0.242; p = 0.03). Correlations between the serum TrkB content and the severity of diabetes mellitus course (R = 0.482; p = 0.01), pain intensity (R = 0.383; p = 0.001), and impaired nerve conduction (R = 0.359; p = 0.003) were found.&#x0D; Conclusions. The elevated expression and increased serum concentrations of BDNF and TrkB occur at the initial stage of the damage of peripheral nerve fibers and correlate with the degree of compensation for carbohydrate metabolism, the duration of diabetes and the severity of neural conduction disorders. The data obtained allow us to consider the increased serum levels of BDNF and TrkB as the markers of subclinical stage of diabetic polyneuropathy.

Sural and medial plantar nerve conduction study in the diagnosis of subclinical diabetic neuropathy

Background and Aim Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is one of the most challenging complications of diabetes mellitus. A large number of patients have subclinical neuropathy at the time of detection of diabetes. Proper detection of subclinical diabetic neuropathy is important to prevent more complications. When the symptoms start, there are not many effective therapeutic treatments. Nerve conduction studies (NCS) are known to be sensitive, reliable, noninvasive, and easy to perform to study diabetic neuropathy. Study of the medial plantar and sural nerves can test the most distal parts of the nerves and can be considered an alternative method for the diagnosis of polyneuropathy in the early stages. The aim of this work is to study the utility of both medial plantar and sural nerve conduction in the early diagnosis of diabetic polyneuropathy. Patients and methods Twenty diabetic asymptomatic patients and 20 healthy volunteers of both sexes were included. Their ages ranged between 26 and 44 years and 24 and 46 years, respectively. NCS of the medial plantar and sural nerves for all the patients and control groups is performed using the antidromic method of stimulation for sural nerve and orthodromic stimulation for the medial plantar nerve. Results There were significant changes in the sensory study of both medial plantar and sural nerves of neurologically asymptomatic diabetic patients compared with the control. Conclusion NCS of both medial plantar and sural nerves aids in the detection of subclinical diabetic polyneuropathy.

Role of interdigital sensory nerve conduction study as a noninvasive approach for early diagnosis of diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

Diabetes mellitus is amongst the most common causes of polyneuropathy worldwide that can eventually terminate to irreversible complications. The remarkable impact of diabetic polyneuropathy as a debilitating condition on the healthcare system and total costs of diabetes care is undeniable. Despite the existence of numerous diagnostic tools such as routine electrophysiologic procedures, its early detection is challenging. This study designed to compare more distal techniques of electrodiagnostic testing, including interdigital sensory nerve conduction studies (NCSs), with conventional approaches and to investigate its role in confirming the early stages of polyneuropathy. This cross-sectional study was performed in the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department of Hazrat Fatemeh Reconstruction Surgery Hospital. Thirty one symptomatic diabetic outpatients and 23 asymptomatic nondiabetic subjects included in our study. We performed nerve conduction studies on five sensory nerves consist of the dorsal sural nerve, medial plantar nerve, digital branches of the interdigital nerves to toes I, II, and III (as a new antidromic technique). In this study, all techniques applied with a surface stimulator and pick-up electrodes. In the group of patients, 9 (29%) and 22 (71%) subjects had impaired and normal routine NCSs, respectively. Interestingly, the results of interdigital nerve studies were abnormal in the 17 out of 22 patients with normal routine NCSs. Also, 11 and 13 subjects had impaired medial plantar nerve and dorsal sural nerve conduction studies, respectively. Accordingly, with this new method, the prevalence of detectable diabetic neuropathy increased from 46% to 83%. We conducted this study intending to demonstrate the application of a new technique for early diagnosis of diabetic polyneuropathy, especially in the presymptomatic and subclinical neuropathies. The digital sensory branches of IDNs known as the most distal sensory nerves, which can be easily evaluated with new antidromic SNAP technique. Our method is simple, non-invasive, suitable, sensitive, and reproducible. There is no need to needle electrode or averaging technique to record an appropriate amplitude of IDN. Thus, it is recommended as a convenient electrophysiological option for early diagnosis of DPN.

Исследование нервных волокон роговицы в ранней диагностике диабетической полинейропатии

Исследование нервных волокон роговицы в ранней диагностике диабетической полинейропатии

Диагностика диабетической полинейропатии на основе исследования нервных волокон роговицы

«Российская офтальмология онлайн» - электронное информационное издание, создается с 1 марта 2010 года под эгидой Российского общества офтальмологов. Основная задача проекта - научно-информационная поддержка специалистов в области офтальмологии.

Early diagnosis of diabetic polyneuropathy based on the results of corneal nerve fibers examination

To conduct comparative analysis of the results of CNF assessment using CCM and other known neurological instrumental techniques as well as evaluate their applicability to the early diagnosis of diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN). We examined a total of 46 patients (85 eyes) with type 1 DM and either subclinical (24 patients), or clinical-stage DPN (22 patients) and 50 patients (87 eyes) with type 2 DM (subclinical DPN in 27 patients and clinical-stage DPN in 23 patients). The control group consisted of 34 healthy volunteers (68 eyes). All patients underwent standard ophthalmological examination, CCM with nerve tortuosity assessment (including calculation of coefficients of CNF orientation anisotropy, KΔL, and symmetry, Ksym) and interocular asymmetry, electroneuromyography (ENMG), and quantitative sensory testing (QST). Analysis of the CCM results revealed a reliable decrease in the average KΔL values in patients with type 1 and type 2 DM compared with the control group. In the group of patients with type 1 DM and subclinical DPN, correlations were revealed between the CNF tortuosity coefficients and a number of ENMG parameters, such as the M-response amplitude of the peroneal nerve (r=0.73, p≤0.02), M-response amplitude of the tibial nerve (r=0.58, p≤0.01), residual latency (r= -0.62, p≤0.05), and peroneal nerve conduction velocity (r=0.57, p≤0.01). Ksym values correlated with the warm sensitivity threshold (r=0.6, p≤0.008). Among patients with type 2 DM and subclinical DPN, the KΔL coefficient correlated with the peroneal nerve conduction velocity (r=0.46, p≤0.02), M-response amplitude of the tibial nerve (r=0.6, p≤0.04), and residual latency of the peroneal nerve (r=-0.56, p≤0.05). The state of thin corneal nerves correlates with functional changes in the peripheral nerves. Pathological changes in CNF in patients with DM can be detected at an early (subclinical) stage of DPN using laser CCM and a program for corneal nerve tortuosity analysis.

O-27 Sensory and motor nerve excitability testing in type 2 diabetics

Background Previous studies have proposed the utility of nerve excitability testing (NET) with threshold tracking for understanding disease pathophysiology and early diagnosis of diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN). We aimed in this study to elucidate sensory and motor NET changes in DPN. Materials and methods We included 128 diabetics and 31 healthy controls (HC). All participants were examined with Nerve Conduction Studies (NCS) on three motor (tibial, peroneal and median) and three sensory (sural (bilateral) and median) nerves. Patients were divided into two groups, patients with neuropathy (DPN+) and patients without neuropathy (DPN-) using NCS in lower extremities. Motor and sensory NET and NCS on the median nerve were compared between the groups using 3-way ANOVA. Results Out of 27 NET parameters, 7 motor (including TEd(peak), S2 accommodation, TEd40(Accom)) and 2 sensory parameters(accommodation half-time and TEh(slope 101–140 ms)) were significantly different between groups (p Conclusions Overall, the changes in NET were not as prominent as changes in NCS and not in concord with previously reported excitability changes. This may be because NET measures the function of the surviving axons rather than non-functioning axons. We are therefore uncertain of the utility of NET in diagnostics or understanding the mechanisms of DPN. Part of the International Diabetic Neuropathy Consortium research programme, supported by Novo Nordisk Foundation Challenge Programme (Grant No. NNF14OC0011633 ).

К вопросу о ранней диагностике диабетической полинейропатии

К вопросу о ранней диагностике диабетической полинейропатии

A fully automatic nerve segmentation and morphometric parameter quantification system for early diagnosis of diabetic neuropathy in corneal images

Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (DPN) is one of the most common types of diabetes that can affect the cornea. An accurate analysis of the nerve structures can assist the early diagnosis of this disease. This paper proposes a robust, fast and fully automatic nerve segmentation and morphometric parameter quantification system for corneal confocal microscope images. The segmentation part consists of three main steps. First, a preprocessing step is applied to enhance the visibility of the nerves and remove noise using anisotropic diffusion filtering, specifically a Coherence filter followed by Gaussian filtering. Second, morphological operations are applied to remove unwanted objects in the input image such as epithelial cells and small nerve segments. Finally, an edge detection step is applied to detect all the nerves in the input image. In this step, an efficient algorithm for connecting discontinuous nerves is proposed. In the morphometric parameters quantification part, a number of features are extracted, including thickness, tortuosity and length of nerve, which may be used for the early diagnosis of diabetic polyneuropathy and when planning Laser-Assisted in situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) or Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). The performance of the proposed segmentation system is evaluated against manually traced ground-truth images based on a database consisting of 498 corneal sub-basal nerve images (238 are normal and 260 are abnormal). In addition, the robustness and efficiency of the proposed system in extracting morphometric features with clinical utility was evaluated in 919 images taken from healthy subjects and diabetic patients with and without neuropathy. We demonstrate rapid (13 seconds/image), robust and effective automated corneal nerve quantification. The proposed system will be deployed as a useful clinical tool to support the expertise of ophthalmologists and save the clinician time in a busy clinical setting.

An 'Importance' Map of Signs and Symptoms to Classify Diabetic Polyneuropathy: An Exploratory Data Analysis.

Aims/HypothesisEarly diagnosis of diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) is critical for a good prognosis. We aimed to identify different groups of patients, based on the various common clinical signs and symptoms of DPN, that represent a progressive worsening of the disease before the onset of plantar ulceration or amputation. We also sought to identify the most important DPN-related variables that can discriminate between groups, thus representing the most informative variables for early detection.MethodsIn 193 diabetic patients, we assessed 16 DPN-related signs, symptoms, and foot characteristics, based on the literature and the International Consensus on the Diabetic Foot. We used multiple correspondence analysis and the Kohonen algorithm to group the variables into micro and macro-classes and to identify clusters of patients that represent different DPN conditions.ResultsFour distinct groups were observed. One group showed no indication of DPN. The remaining groups were characterized by a progressive loss of the vibration perception, without a worsening of symptoms or tactile perception. The 2 intermediate groups presented different aspects of DPN: one showed mostly DPN symptoms and the other showed the incipient vibration impairment, callus and crack formation, and foot arch alteration. The fourth group showed more severe foot and DPN conditions, including ulceration and amputation, absence of vibration and tactile perception (irrespective of how many compromised foot areas), and worse foot deformities and callus and crack formation.ConclusionVibration perception was more informative than tactile sensitivity in discriminating early DPN onset because its impairment was evident in more groups. Symptoms and callus and cracks did not discriminate the severity status and should be interpreted in association with other clinical variables. Reconsideration of the current screening techniques is needed to clinically determine the early onset of neuropathy using tactile perception.

Corneal Confocal Microscopy: A New Technique for Early Detection of Diabetic Neuropathy

Corneal confocal microscopy (CCM) is a noninvasive method for the study of human cornea in vivo. It has increasingly been used to assess the morphology of the sub-basal corneal nerve plexus. CCM has good reproducibility and may contribute to the early diagnosis of diabetic polyneuropathy. It may also be useful to document favorable changes in nerve fiber structure early after therapeutic intervention. Corneal nerve pathology is more pronounced in patients with diabetic polyneuropathy and is associated with its clinical severity. The sensitivity and specificity of CCM for the diagnosis of polyneuropathy is moderate to high. CCM now merits further use in large longitudinal studies to provide more information on the natural history of diabetic neuropathy and effects of treatment. Moreover, there is a need for a larger normative database. Finally, technical progress is expected to enable visualization of larger corneal areas and improve nerve fiber quantification, increasing diagnostic accuracy.

The sensitivity of electromyoneurography in the diagnosis of diabetic polyneuropathy

Diabetic polyneuropathy is a complex set of clinical syndromes, which deplete various regions of the nervous system. The process leading to diabetic neuropathy is multi-factorial. Its symptoms are paresthesia, dysesthesia and pain. The signs of damage to the peripheral neurons are hypoesthesia, hypoalgesia, hyperesthesia and hyperalgesia, decreased tendon reflexes, and, possibly, weakness and muscle atrophy. There is no universal classification. Electromyoneurography is indispensable in the diagnosis of diabetic polyneuropathy. However, there is no agreement on the most sensitive parameter for an early diagnosis. One hundred patients with diabetes mellitus were examined in order to investigate the sensitivity of different electromyographic parameters. Electromyographic techniques proved to be entirely sensitive for the early diagnosis of diabetic polyneuropathy. Some of the parameters are more suitable for an early detection of peripheral nerve damage, and others, which are not so sensitive but easy to use and stable, are suitable to follow up the course of diabetic polyneuropathy.

Recent clinical advances in diabetic polyneuropathy

Recent dramatic increases in the incidence and prevalence of diabetes make an understanding of chronic symmetric sensorimotor diabetic polyneuropathy, the most common and problematic of chronic diabetic complications, essential for a wide range of medical practitioners. The demonstration of neuropathic dysfunction in patients with prediabetes or impaired glucose tolerance emphasizes the susceptibility of peripheral nerve fibers, especially small A delta fibers and C fibers, to relatively mild, short-duration hyperglycemia. New testing can reveal peripheral nerve dysfunction prior to clinical neuropathic symptoms and signs. In the absence of effective medications to halt or reverse nerve damage or promote nerve regeneration, early diagnosis of diabetic polyneuropathy, followed by tight glycemic control with diet and exercise, offers the best opportunity to prevent progressive symptoms of sensory loss, pain, autonomic dysfunction, ulcerations, and amputations. Some patients with impaired glucose tolerance have a reversal of neuropathic features with tight glycemic control. Nonpharmacologic therapies for neuropathic pain in diabetic polyneuropathy appear promising. Tight glycemic control, especially early in diabetes, is the best approach to minimizing the prevalence and severity of diabetic polyneuropathy and makes research into the deleterious effects of even mild hyperglycemia imperative.

The prevalence of clinical diabetic polyneuropathy in Spain: a study in primary care and hospital clinic groups. Neuropathy Spanish Study Group of the Spanish Diabetes Society (SDS).

A multiregional cross-sectional study of clinical diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) was carried out among Spanish diabetes patients using a standard system for scoring symptoms and signs of polyneuropathy. The main patient sample comprised 2644 patients (54.7% women) aged 15-74 years (mean 57.2 +/- 0.3 years), 86.9% of whom had Type II (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus and 29.4% were attending hospital clinics. Mean duration of diabetes since diagnosis was 10.2 +/- 0.2 years. The prevalence of DPN was 22.7% (95% confidence interval 21.2-24.3%) in the whole sample, 12.9% (9.4-16.5%) among patients with Type I (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus and 24.1% (22.4-25.9%) among patients with Type II diabetes; there was no significant difference in prevalence between men and women. Prevalence increased with age (from < 5% in the 15- to 19-year-old age group to 29.5% in the 70- to 74-year-old group) and with duration of diabetes since diagnosis (from 14.2% among those with duration < 5 years to 44.2% among those with duration > 30 years). In a supplementary sample of 161 diabetic patients aged 75 to 79 years (excluded from the main sample to prevent confusion between diabetes-induced and ageing-induced neuropathies), prevalence was 37.8%. Ninety-three patients (3.3%) had or had had foot ulcers and 21 of these 93 (0.7%) had undergone amputation; 90.8% of ulcerated patients had Type II diabetes, and 54% had DPN (in most cases with loss of perception of vibration), as against a prevalence of DPN of 19.9% among patients without ulcers. We conclude that nearly a quarter of Spanish diabetic patients have DPN; that over 90% of DPN patients have Type II diabetes; that the prevalence of DPN increases with age and with the duration of the disease, and that the risk of foot ulcers among DPN patients is about three times the risk among diabetic patients without DPN. We accordingly emphasize the responsibility of primary care physicians to try to prevent diabetic foot lesions by early diagnosis of DPN.