Sudoscan is an effective screening method for asymptomatic diabetic neuropathy in Chinese type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to use the sudomotor function test, Sudoscan, as a screening method for the evaluation of asymptomatic diabetic distal symmetric polyneuropathy in Chinese type 2 diabetes patients. As a result, more attention could be paid to those asymptomatic patients who could be easily neglected and underdiagnosed in everyday clinic.


METHODS
A total of 394 Chinese type 2 diabetes patients were enrolled and tested for symptoms and clinical signs of neuropathy using the Neurological Symptom Score, Neuropathy Disability Score, and vibration perception threshold. Sudoscan was carried out, and the results were collected as the measurement of the electrochemical skin conductance of both hands and feet.


RESULTS
In the present study, we found that the abnormal rate of Sudoscan results in patients with asymptomatic neuropathy was higher than those without neuropathy and those with symptomatic neuropathy. This study also showed that lower electrochemical skin conductance at the feet was significantly associated with increasing symptoms, Neurological Symptom Score (r = -0.124, P < 0.05), Neuropathy Disability Score (r = -0.3, P < 0.01) and vibration perception threshold value (r = -0.18, P < 0.05). Logistic analysis showed that age (odds ratio 1.042, 95% confidence interval 1.014-1.071, P < 0.05) and feet electrochemical skin conductance levels (odds ratio 0.98, 95% confidence interval 0.962-0.993, P < 0.01) were independently associated with diabetic distal symmetric polyneuropathy.


CONCLUSIONS
Sudoscan might be a promising tool to screen asymptomatic diabetic distal symmetric polyneuropathy in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Fei
F
Mao
Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Siying
S
Liu
Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Xiaona
X
Qiao
Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Hangping
H
Zheng
Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.|Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Jing'an District Center Hospital of Shanghai, Shanghai, China.
Qian
Q
Xiong
Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.|Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Jing'an District Center Hospital of Shanghai, Shanghai, China.
Jie
J
Wen
Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Punan Hospital, Shanghai, China.
Lianyong
L
Liu
Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Jiading District Center Hospital of Shanghai, Shanghai, China.
Mingming
M
Tang
Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Shuo
S
Zhang
Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Zhaoyun
Z
Zhang
Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Hongying
H
Ye
Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Bin
B
Lu
Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.|Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Jing'an District Center Hospital of Shanghai, Shanghai, China.
Yiming
Y
Li
D044466:Asian People; D002681:China; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications*; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D005712:Galvanic Skin Response; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012684:Sensory Thresholds; D055698:Touch Perception
Distal symmetric polyneuropathy; Screening; Sudoscan