title: Combined nerve conduction index in diabetic polyneuropathy.
abstract: Diabetic polyneuropathy can be confirmed by nerve conduction studies. The data can be analyzed in the form of a combined index instead of individual parameters.
  
  
  METHODS
  The combined index included five parameters of nerve conduction studies commonly used for evaluation of polyneuropathies. We evaluated sensitivity in 100 diabetic patients with suspected polyneuropathy, and specificity in 200 non-diabetic patients with suspected lumbosacral radiculopathy. All results were expressed in number of standard deviations (SD).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sensitivity of the combined index was 81 or 74%, and specificity was 97 or 98%, using respectively -2.0 or -2.5 SD as cutoff. The range of sensitivity of the other parameters was 57-65% or 48-56%, and specificity range was 96-98% or 98-100%, using the same criteria.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combined index had higher sensitivity and equivalent specificity compared to isolated parameters.
authors.affiliation: Fleury Institute, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. carlos.heise@grupofleury.com.br
authors.forename: Carlos Otto
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Heise
authors.forename: Flavia Costa Nunes
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.forename: Simone Consuelo de
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Amorim
authors.forename: Sonia Maria de
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Toledo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004568:Electrodiagnosis / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology*; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult