Spinal somatosensory conduction in diabetes

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The velocity bf impulse conduction was compared in peripheral nerve, spinal cord, and supraspinal segment of the somatosensory pathway in 15 diabetic subjects (mean age, 34.3 ± 12.4 years) with little or no evidence of polyneuropathy, and in 15 age-matched normal controls. Motor and sensory conduction velocities (CVs) were slower in the diabetic subjects, and the latencies of F waves and somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) from arm and leg were longer (p p p p <0.1). In relationship to peripheral nerve CV, the incidence of subnormal SSCV in the diabetic subjects could not be fully explained on the basis of: (1) a passive consequence of peripheral neuropathy, (2) a sensory distal axonopathy, or (3) a primary diabetic myelopathy. We conclude that 40% of diabetics have subclinical electro-physiologic dysfunction of the posterior columns of the spinal cord, which may contribute to the lower-extremity sensory symptoms that are so prevalent in this disorder.