J Korean Acad Rehabil Med.  2001 Feb;25(1):102-109.

Evaluation of Peripheral Polyneuropathy in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus Using Quantitative Sensory Test

• Park JM
• Kang SJ
• Kim KW
• Kim JW
• Kim SH

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine whether quantitative sensory test can be used as a screening test of peripheral polyneuropathy in patients with diabetes mellitus, and to evaluate the severity of peripheral polyneuropathy in patients with diabetes mellitus using quantitative sensory test. METHOD: We performed nerve conduction study to right upper and left lower extremity of the patients. Quantitative sensory test was performed using TSA-2001 thermal sensory analyser on right thenar and left foot dorsum in both diabetic and control groups.
RESULTS
1) The warm sense and heat pain threshold were higher, the cold sense and cold pain threshold were lower in diabetic group than age-matched control group (p<0.05). 2) The warm sense and heat pain threshold were higher, the cold sense and cold pain threshold were lower in diabetic group than young-aged control group (p<0.05). 3) As nerve conduction study results were severe, the cold sense threshold in right thenar were decreased (p<0.05).
CONCLUSION
Quantitative sensory study in patients with diabetes mellitus are sensitive to identify neuropathic change; thus, they would be used as the screening method of diabetic peripheral polyneuropathy.

Keyword

Quantitative sensory test; Diabetic peripheral polyneuropathy; Nerve conduction study

MeSH Terms

Diabetes Mellitus*
Foot
Hot Temperature
Humans
Lower Extremity
Mass Screening
Neural Conduction
Pain Threshold
Polyneuropathies*