Assessment of the Presence of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus, Hypothyroidism and Acromegaly.
BACKGROUND
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is one of the most common entrapment neuropathies of the upper limbs. It results from compromised median nerve function of the wrist that is caused by increased pressure in the carpal tunnel. Repetitive use of the hand and wrist, obesity, pregnancy, rheumatoid diseases, trauma and endocrinopathies are some of the risk factors for CTS.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to find out whether patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), hypothyroidism and acromegaly have an increased incidence of carpal tunnel syndrome compared to each other and normal population.


METHODS
Patients were assigned into three groups as follows: patients with type II DM n: 100, patients with hypothyroidism n:48 and patients with acromegaly n:36. In addition, 50 healthy individuals were included in the study as control subjects. Patients were asked if they had any pain, symptoms of paraesthesia and numbness. Patients with peripheral neuropathy were excluded from the study. Boston Symptom Severity Scale and Functional Capacity Scale were used to assess symptom severity and functional capacity. CTS was investigated by performing electrophysiological study for both hands.


RESULTS
The incidence of CTS was significantly higher in all three groups compared to the control group (p>0.05). In addition, the incidence of CTS was significantly higher in the DM group compared to the hypothyroid and acromegaly groups (p<0.001). The incidence of bilateral CTS in the DM group was significantly higher compared to both hypothyroid and acromegaly groups and the control group (p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
CTS has a higher incidence in DM, hypothyroid and acromegaly patients compared to healthy individuals. Clinicians should be careful about development of CTS in DM, hypothyroidism and acromegaly. They should adopt a multidisciplinary approach and co-operate with the psychiatrist.
Faculty, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Dicle University , Diyarbakir, Turkey .
Pelin
P
Oktayoglu
Faculty, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Sakarya University , Sakarya, Turkey .
Kemal
K
Nas
Faculty, Department of Endocrinology, Faculty of Medicine, Dicle University , Diyarbakir, Turkey .
Faruk
F
Kilinç
Faculty, Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Dicle University , Diyarbakir, Turkey .
Nebahat
N
Tasdemir
Faculty, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Dicle University , Diyarbakir, Turkey .
Mehtap
M
Bozkurt
Faculty, Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, Dicle University , Diyarbakir, Turkey .
Ismail
I
Yildiz
Electropysiologic study; Endocrinopathies; Median nerve