Vibratory and thermal thresholds in diabetics with and without clinical neuropathy.
Vibration and thermal detection threshold and heat pain threshold were determined in 34 diabetics scrutinized for clinical neuropathy using a standardized questionnaire and examination form. On the basis of the clinical grading patients were classified as having either no neuropathy or a neuropathy of increasing severity. As expected thermal and vibratory detection threshold increased with increasing severity of neuropathy. Comparison between diabetics without symptoms and signs of neuropathy and a corresponding non-diabetic control group showed that a warm sensibility index (WSI = the range in which non-noxious heat is perceived) was significantly lower on feet in diabetics than in their matched non-diabetic controls. The findings show that quantitative assessment of thermal sensitivity may be of value to detect early small nerve fiber dysfunction even in patients without symptoms or signs of a clinical neuropathy.
Jensen
T S
TS
Gentofte Hospital, Department of Neurology, Aalborg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Bach
F W
FW
Kastrup
J
J
Dejgaard
A
A
Brennum
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008465:Mechanoreceptors / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D009619:Nociceptors / Q000503:physiopathology; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology; D013823:Thermoreceptors / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013697:Thermosensing / Q000502:physiology*; D014732:Vibration