TY - JOUR
T1 - Methods for assessing diabetic polyneuropathy
T2 - Validity and reproducibility of the measurement of sensory symptom severity and nerve function tests
AU - Valk, G. D.
AU - Grootenhuis, P. A.
AU - Van Eijk, J. Th M.
AU - Bouter, L. M.
AU - Bertelsmann, F. W.
PY - 2000/2/1
Y1 - 2000/2/1
N2 - The usefulness of sensory symptoms in the assessment of diabetic polyneuropathy is unclear. In the present study, we studied the hypothesis that pain is associated with small nerve fibre function, and that sensory alteration is associated with large nerve fibre function. In addition, we assessed the reproducibility and the ability to detect changes in clinical status over time of the nerve function tests currently used in clinical trials. Patients (78) with stable diabetic polyneuropathy were examined on three separate occasions with a test-retest interval of 17 and 52 weeks. Small nerve fibre function was measured using temperature discrimination thresholds for warmth (TDT(warmth)) and cold (TDT(cold)). Large nerve fibre function was measured by testing sensory and motor nerve conduction velocities (SNCV and MNCV) and vibration perception thresholds (VPT). Neuropathic pain was only significantly associated with TDT(cold), and with the MNCV of the tibial nerve. Sensory alteration was associated with almost all nerve function tests except the SNCV and MNCV of the ulnar nerve. The measurements of symptom severity and the nerve function tests all proved to be sufficiently reproducible. The standardized smallest detectable difference on group level (SDD) of the measurement of sensory alteration and neuropathic pain were almost the same (9% and 12%, respectively). Among the nerve function tests, the SNCV and MNCV had the smallest SDD (3-4%), and were, therefore, potentially the most responsive instruments. The SDD of the TDT was greater than the VPT (9-14% vs 21-28%, respectively). In conclusion, neuropathic pain was not associated with small nerve fibre function, and sensory alteration was associated with both large and small fibre function. In addition, the standardized measurement of symptom severity, the SNCV and MNCV tests, and the VPT test appear to be useful for monitoring the course of polyneuropathy in clinical trials.
AB - The usefulness of sensory symptoms in the assessment of diabetic polyneuropathy is unclear. In the present study, we studied the hypothesis that pain is associated with small nerve fibre function, and that sensory alteration is associated with large nerve fibre function. In addition, we assessed the reproducibility and the ability to detect changes in clinical status over time of the nerve function tests currently used in clinical trials. Patients (78) with stable diabetic polyneuropathy were examined on three separate occasions with a test-retest interval of 17 and 52 weeks. Small nerve fibre function was measured using temperature discrimination thresholds for warmth (TDT(warmth)) and cold (TDT(cold)). Large nerve fibre function was measured by testing sensory and motor nerve conduction velocities (SNCV and MNCV) and vibration perception thresholds (VPT). Neuropathic pain was only significantly associated with TDT(cold), and with the MNCV of the tibial nerve. Sensory alteration was associated with almost all nerve function tests except the SNCV and MNCV of the ulnar nerve. The measurements of symptom severity and the nerve function tests all proved to be sufficiently reproducible. The standardized smallest detectable difference on group level (SDD) of the measurement of sensory alteration and neuropathic pain were almost the same (9% and 12%, respectively). Among the nerve function tests, the SNCV and MNCV had the smallest SDD (3-4%), and were, therefore, potentially the most responsive instruments. The SDD of the TDT was greater than the VPT (9-14% vs 21-28%, respectively). In conclusion, neuropathic pain was not associated with small nerve fibre function, and sensory alteration was associated with both large and small fibre function. In addition, the standardized measurement of symptom severity, the SNCV and MNCV tests, and the VPT test appear to be useful for monitoring the course of polyneuropathy in clinical trials.
KW - Diabetic polyneuropathy
KW - Nerve function tests
KW - Sensory symptoms
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0033989740&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/S0168-8227(99)00111-4
DO - 10.1016/S0168-8227(99)00111-4
M3 - Article
C2 - 10670907
AN - SCOPUS:0033989740
SN - 0168-8227
VL - 47
SP - 87
EP - 95
JO - Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice
JF - Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice
IS - 2
ER -