title: Restoring lower limb blood flow improves conduction velocity in diabetic patients.
abstract: Human diabetic peripheral neuropathy is believed to have, at least in part, a microvascular basis. This study was designed to examine the effects of restoration of arterial blood supply on peripheral nerve function in six non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients with peripheral occlusive vascular disease. In the revascularised legs, transcutaneous oxygen increased from a median 37.5 (28.5-45.7 interquartile range) mmHg to 55.5 (53.5-62.5) mmHg, p = 0.036, mean increase 20.2 (14.8-25.6, 95% confidence intervals(CI) mmHg. This was accompanied by a significant improvement in peroneal motor nerve conduction velocity from 31.7 (26.5-36.3) m/s to 33.5 (32.9-39.4) m/s, p = 0.04, mean increase 4.7 (1.7-7.7, 95% CI) m/s. There was no significant change in transcutaneous oxygen or peroneal nerve motor conduction velocity in the contralateral control limbs. This improvement in conduction velocity with improved tissue oxygenation suggests that studies of agents which might indirectly bring about improvements in microvascular blood flow should be urgently considered.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Medicine, Manchester Royal Infirmary, UK.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Veves
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Boulton
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000601:surgery*; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D009431:Neural Conduction; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D010543:Peroneal Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000601:surgery*