CLINICAL AND ELECTRONEUROGRAPHIC EVALUATION OF NEUROPATHY AMONG DIABETIC PATIENTS IN SHIRAZ.

Abstract

Background: Neuropathy is a common complication of diabetes mellitus. Careful neurological examination and electro diagnosis are valuable in early diagnosis of neuropathy and prevention of its sequels.

Methods: 103 randomly selected diabetic patients referred from the endocrine clinic were evaluated. Mean age of patients was 52.6 ±14 years. 29.4% had type 1 and 70.6% had type 2 diabetes. History was taken for each patient and neurological examination was carried out. Electroneurographic examination included nerve conduction velocity, action potential amplitude, distal latency and H reflex measurements.

Results: 79.4% of patients had neuropathy. The prevalence of neuropathy had a direct relation with duration of the disease. The most common complaints were tingling and numbness of extremities (72%) and burning sensation of the feet (36%). The most common physical findings were abnormal ankle jerk (92%), and decreased vibration perception (76%) in feet. Abnormal H reflex (92.5%) and decreased amplitude of action potentials (79%) were the most common electroneurographic findings. There was a good correlation between clinical and electroneurographic findings.

Conclusion: Neuropathy is very common among our diabetic patients. Thus neurological examination is recommended to prevent unnecessary work ups and to help preventing untoward complications.