Composite nerve conduction scores and signs for diagnosis and somatic staging of diabetic polyneuropathy: Mid North American ethnic cohort survey

Abstract

Introduction/aims: In the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT), the minimal nerve conduction (NC) criterion for diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy (DSPN) was abnormality of NC in more than one peripheral nerve without specifying the attributes of NCs to be evaluated. In the present study, we assess individual and composite scores of NCs meeting the DCCT criterion and signs for improved diagnosis and assessment of DSPN severity.

Methods: Evaluated were 13 attributes and 6 composite NC scores and signs and symptoms in 395 healthy subjects (HS) and 388 persons with diabetes (DM).

Results: Percent abnormality between subjects with DM and HS was remarkably different among individual attributes and the six composite NC scores. For diagnosis of DSPN using the DCCT criterion, assessment of conduction velocities (CVs) and distal latencies (DLs) provided sensitive diagnoses of DSPN. NC amplitudes provided stronger measures of severity. In studied cohorts, DSPN was staged: N0, no NC abnormality using NC score 2 (CVs and DLs), 60.0%; N1, NC abnormality only, 18.4%; N2, NC abnormality and signs of feet or legs, 16.3%; and N3, NC abnormality and signs of thighs, 5.3%.

Discussion: For sensitive and standard diagnosis of DSPN using the DCCT NC criterion, specifically defined composite scores of CVs and DLs, e.g., score 2, is recommended. A composite score of amplitudes, e.g., score 4, provides a stronger measure of neuropathy severity. Also, provided are HS reference values of evaluated attributes of NCs and estimates of staged severity of DSPN of mid North American DM cohorts.

Keywords: composite nerve conduction scores; diabetic complication in Northern Plains Indians and Latinos; diagnosis of diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy; epidemiology survey of diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy; nerve conduction assessment and reference values in health and in diabetes; staged severity of diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy; validation of diagnosis and staged severity of diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy.