Value of sympathetic skin response test in the early diagnosis of diabetic neuropathy.
BACKGROUND
Diabetic neuropathy is common in diabetes mellitus. The early stage of diabetic neuropathy is often symptomless and difficult to be treated. The aim of this study was to assess the correlation between the results of the sympathetic skin response (SSR) test and the development of diabetic neuropathy, and explore the use of SSR as an objective basis for the early diagnosis of diabetic neuropathy.


METHODS
The latencies and amplitudes of initiation and of the N and P waves were determined by SSR testing of the extremities of 80 diabetic patients and 30 healthy controls.


RESULTS
The latencies of initiation and of the N and P waves were significantly (P <0.001) longer in diabetic patients than in the controls, while there was no significant difference in the amplitudes (P >0.05). All but two patients (97.5%) demonstrated abnormal SSR in at least one limb.


CONCLUSIONS
SSR can detect early dysfunction of the small sympathetic fibers in people affected by diabetes mellitus, and may be a useful electrophysiological test for the early diagnosis of diabetic neuropathy.
Huang
Yi-ning
YN
Department of Neurology, First Hospital of Peking University, Beijing 100034, China. huangyn@outmail.net.cn
Jia
Zhi-rong
ZR
Shi
Xin
X
Sun
Xiang-ru
XR
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011930:Reaction Time; D012867:Skin / Q000294:innervation*; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*