Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Prevalence of diabetic neuropathy is between 10 to 90% in different studies base on the method of it evaluation(clinical or paraclinical).

Objective: Evaluation of frequency of diabetic polyneuropathy indiabetic persons in endocrinology clinic of mashad endocrinand metabolic research center based on symptoms,signs and electrodiagnostic study.

Method: The study was cross-sectional; 110 diabetic patients were enrolled.patients with other causes of polyneuropathy such as hypothyroidism, collagen-vasculardiseases,renal failure were excluded. Neuropathic symptoms (paresthesia, hyperesthesia,neurotic pain,…) were recorded in questionnaire. Physical exam included evaluation of superficial sensation (by 10 gram monofilament), vibration(by 128Hz fork), position, pain, temperature and deep tendon reflexes. Electrodiagnostic tests conducted in proneal, sural and sensory branch of radial nerve.

Results: Frequency of neuropathy based on symptoms, signs and electrodiagnostic tests were 55.4%, 59.09% and 70% respectively. Most frequent symptom was paresthesia, most frequent sign was abnormal DTR and most frequent finding of electrodiagnostic tests was decreased amplitude of proneal and sural nerves. only 16 of 77 patients with abnormal electrodiagnostic findings didn’t have any symptom and sign.

Discussion: Frequency of symptoms, signs and abnormal electrodiagnostic findings were consistent with several other studies. The percentage of abnormal electrodiagnostic findings were low in patients without both signs and symptoms.

Conclusion: It seems history and physical examination has an important role compared to expensive electrodiagnostic tests.

Declaration of interest: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research project.

Funding: This work was supported, however funding details unavailable.