Journal List > Ann Clin Neurophysiol > v.19(2) > 1099489

Park, Kwon, Youn, Park, Hong, and Sung: Current perception threshold in diabetic sensory polyneuropathy with normal routine nerve conduction study

초록

Background

Routine nerve conduction study (NCS) can only be used to evaluate the function of large fibers, and the results of NCS are often normal in patients with distal sensory polyneuropathy. The measurement of the current perception threshold (CPT) has been reported to represent a variety of peripheral nerve fiber functions. This study was performed to investigate the value of measuring CPT in patients with diabetic sensory polyneuropathy who have no abnormalities in routine NCS.

Methods

Twenty-seven diabetic patients with sensory polyneuropathy and normal routine NCS and 18 age-matched control subjects participated in this study. The CPT was measured on the unilateral index finger and great toe of each subject at frequencies of 5 Hz, 250 Hz, and 2,000 Hz.

Results

CPT values were significantly higher in the patient group than in the control group, especially with stimuli at the lowest frequency of 5 Hz (p < 0.05). There were significant correlations between the CPT values obtained at three different frequencies in the patient group, whereas the correlation was only significant in the pair of 250 Hz/5 Hz (both in the hands and feet), and in the pair of 2,000 Hz/250 Hz (in the feet) for the control group.

Conclusions

Our data suggest that the CPT test, especially at a stimuli frequency of 5 Hz, may be a useful screening tool for diabetic polyneuropathy in patients who show no abnormalities in routine NCS.

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Fig. 1.
Current perception threshold (CPT) values in the hands (A) and feet (B) measured at three different frequencies in the patient (black bars) and control (grey bars) groups. * p < 0.05.
acn-19-125f1.tif
Table 1.
Clinical symptoms and signs in the patient group
Number of patients (%)
Symptoms
Tingling sensation 25 (93)
Numbness 23 (85)
Burning pains 5 (19)
Stabbing pains 4 (15)
Signs
Decreased pinprick or temperature sensation 22 (81)
Mildly decreased vibration or position sensation 4 (15)
Decreased or absent ankle jerks 14 (52)

Values are presented as n (%).

Table 2.
Internal correlations of CPT values at different frequencies
250 Hz/5 Hz 2,000 Hz/250 Hz 2,000 Hz/5 Hz
Hands
Patient group r = 0.72 (p < 0.001 a) r = 0.66 (p < 0.001 a) r = 0.47 (p = 0.014 a)
Control group r = 0.51 (p = 0.031 a) r = 0.31 (p = 0.208) r = 0.34 (p = 0.167)
Feet
Patient group r = 0.66 (p < 0.001 a) r = 0.80 (p < 0.001 a) r = 0.56 (p = 0.002 a)
Control group r = 0.84 (p < 0.001 a) r = 0.62 (p = 0.007 a) r = 0.34 (p = 0.165)

CPT, current perception threshold.

a Significance level p < 0.05.

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