Sensitivity and specificity of von Frey's hairs for the diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
OBJECTIVE
The aim was to evaluate von Frey's hairs as a diagnostic tool for peripheral neuropathy in type-2 diabetes patients with symptoms typical for diabetic neuropathy with respect to nerve conduction studies (NCSs) and a combination of clinical examination and NCS.


METHODS
65 patients with type-2 diabetes (33 men) with mean age 62.1 (SD 6.5) years, mean diabetes duration 17.5 (SD 9) years and mean symptom duration 5.2 (SD 4.3) years were examined with the set of von Frey's hairs. Diabetic neuropathy was diagnosed trough Neuropathy Disability Score (NDS). NCSs were performed on ulnar, peroneal, tibial and sural nerves.


RESULTS
Sensitivity of von Frey's hairs vs. NCS as the gold standard ranged from 37% to 79% and specificity from 65% to 87%. Sensitivity vs. combination of NDS and NCS ranged from 38% to 85% and specificity from 62% to 85%.


CONCLUSIONS
Von Frey's hairs have moderate sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis of neurophysiological and also clinical neuropathy. Being a fast and easy-to-perform procedure, they could be appropriate as a screening test in clinical practice.
University Rehabilitation Institute, Republic of Slovenia, Ljubljana, Slovenia. metka.moharic@mf.uni-lj.si
Metka
M
Moharić
Gaj
G
Vidmar
Helena
H
Burger
D000368:Aged; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications*; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D009757:Nylons; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010543:Peroneal Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013497:Sural Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D013979:Tibial Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D014110:Touch / Q000502:physiology; D014459:Ulnar Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology
D009757:Nylons