title: Clinical and nerve conduction studies in female patients with diabetic dermopathy.
abstract: This study aims to assess the clinical and electrophysiological characteristics of diabetic polyneuropathy (PNP) in female patients. We investigated clinical and electrophysiological features in 175 female patients with diabetes mellitus to compare those with PNP only, diabetic dermopathy (DD), or diabetic foot (DF). Among clinical features, the loss of deep tendon reflexes, the presence of negative sensory symptoms, superficial sensory loss, and the loss of vibration sense were more common in DD patients than PNP patients. As compared with DD patients, the presence of skin atrophy, superficial and positive sensory symptoms were more common in DF patients. Neuropathic symptom and disability scores were significantly higher in DD and DF patients than PNP patients. In the electrophysiological studies, the only significant difference was observed in the mean distal latencies for ulnar nerves, which were longer in DD patients as compared with PNP patients, but similar between DD and DF patients. All other parameters failed to show significant difference among patients, though values for DD patients lied in between PNP and DF patients. Carpal tunnel syndrome was present in 45% of PNP patients, 63.8% of DD patients, and 50% of DF patients (P = 0.031). Our results suggest that female patients with diabetic dermopathy might have a more severe sensorial neuropathy than patients without these skin lesions.
authors: Department of Neurology, Istanbul University Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, 34098 Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: M E
authors: ME
authors: Kiziltan
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Benbir
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology*; D009443:Neuritis / Q000503:physiopathology; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D010543:Peroneal Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013497:Sural Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology