Electrically evoked nociceptive potentials for early detection of diabetic small-fiber neuropathy.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated the utility of pain-related evoked potentials (PREP's) elicited by a nociceptive electrical stimulation of the skin (= electrically evoked nociceptive potentials) in early detection of diabetic small-fiber neuropathy.


METHODS
We studied 36 'young' (19-35 years) and 24 'older' (36-65 years) healthy subjects as well as 35 patients (35-64 years) with diabetes and neuropathic symptoms and 22 patients (34-64 years) with diabetes without neuropathic symptoms. Only patients with normal standard nerve conduction testing were included.


RESULTS
In patients with neuropathic symptoms, we found a significant increase in PREP latencies and decrease of amplitudes elicited from both, upper and lower limbs. In non-symptomatic diabetic patients, we observed PREP abnormalities from lower limbs only.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that the method of pain-related evoked potentials elicited by a nociceptive electrical stimulation of the skin may contribute to the early detection of diabetic sensory neuropathy.
Mueller
D
D
Department of Neurology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany. daniel.mueller@uni-due.de
Obermann
M
M
Koeppen
S
S
Kavuk
I
I
Yoon
M-S
MS
Sack
F
F
Diener
H-C
HC
Kaube
H
H
Katsarava
Z
Z
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D004566:Electrodes; D004594:Electrophysiology / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012867:Skin / Q000294:innervation; D055815:Young Adult