title: F-wave latencies in patients with diabetes mellitus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To evaluate the sensitivity of electrophysiologic assessments, we compared F-waves and motor and sensory nerve conduction studies (MNCS and SNCS) in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM).
  
  
  METHODS
  We tested median, ulnar, tibial, and fibular nerves in 132 DM patients divided into those with and without clinical evidence of polyneuropathy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 64 asymptomatic patients, 2 (3%) had MNCS or SNCS abnormalities, both of whom had F-wave changes, whereas 21 (33%) had only delayed F-waves, for a combined yield of 23 (36%). The corresponding values for 68 symptomatic patients consisted of 43 (63%), 14 (21%), and 57 (84%). In both groups, F-wave latency had a higher (P<0.05) frequency of abnormality than MNCS in all nerves. F-wave study also surpassed SNCS in lower limb nerves.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  F-waves of the tibial and fibular nerves are the most sensitive measure to detect subclinical or overt diabetic polyneuropathy. Muscle Nerve 49: 804-808, 2014.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100050, China.
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Fan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jian
authors.forename: Jinxi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chunfang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zaiqiang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zeyu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Yongjun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Liying
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kimura
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004594:Electrophysiology / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology*; D010543:Peroneal Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013979:Tibial Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D014459:Ulnar Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology
keywords: F-wave; diabetes mellitus; diabetic polyneuropathy; height-latency nomogram; nerve conduction study