Search

Introduction. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is the most common but least recognised and understood long term complication of type 2 diabetic patients (T2DM). There is a close association between obesity and type 2 diabetes as well as its complications. Nerve conduction study is an important non-invasive diagnostic modality used in the detection of diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Obesity is associated with increased oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation is thought to play a crucial role in the development of diabetic neuropathy. The aim of this study is to see the correlation of nerve conduction velocity parameters viz nerve conduction velocity and nerve conduction amplitude with the total body fat mass and oxidative stress markers. Methods. The study included 90 type 2 diabetes patients with clinically suggestible symptoms of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). 50 type 2 diabetic subjects without peripheral neuropathy served as control. Total body fat mass was measured using bioelectric impedance analysis. Oxidative stress markers viz total antioxidant capacity and malondialdehyde were measured using elisa kit. Nerve conduction study both motor and sensory was carried out in relevant nerves. Results. Serum levels of total antioxidant capacity and super oxide dismutase were significantly decreased in type 2 diabetic with neuropathy as compared to the ones without neuropathy. Serum levels of malondialdehyde, on the other hand, was significantly elevated. Motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) of ulnar and common peroneal nerve and sensory nerve conduction velocity of ulnar and sural showed a significantly decreased conduction velocity as compared to control. The total body fat mass showed a significant negative correlation with the motor conduction velocity of median, posterior tibial and sensory conduction velocity of median and sural nerve. Conclusion. The nerve conduction velocity test and total body fat mass evaluation is a cost- effective tool for earlier detection of neuropathy in type 2 diabetes patient.

Objectives: To investigate whether chronic occupational exposure to organophosphates among ricefield workers in a rice institute is related to electrodiagnostically detectable measures of multiple peripheral neuropathy, that is, to investigate whether rotation in areas of work would improve the conduction velocities of those workers found to have peripheral neuropathy, after being shifted from an exposed to a nonexposed status in their work. Design: A 2-year prospective research. Setting: Academic medical center. Participants: 24 male workers with exposure to organophosphates and a well-matched control group of 64 men from the general population who were not exposed to organophosphates. Interventions: All participants in the study and control groups were tested electrodiagnostically for peripheral neuropathy work-up. Those positive for peripheral neuropathy in the study (exposed) group were rotated from their field of work to a nonexposed status for 1 year. A repeated electromyographic nerve conduction velocity test was conducted after 1 year in all participants in the study group. Main Outcome Measures: The chi-square test was used to determine the association between exposure to organophosphate and multiple peripheral neuropathy. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to test for differences in the electrodiagnostic data for the years 2001 and 2002. Results: 6 of 24 participants in the study group had multiple peripheral neuropathy, while 20 of 64 participants in the control group had multiple peripheral neuropathy ( P =.707). Only 4 cases of those diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy in 2001 improved in nerve conduction velocities in their repeat testing in 2002 ( P =.096). Level of statistical significance was set at .05. Conclusions: The results failed to show an association between chronic occupational organophosphate exposure and multiple peripheral neuropathy. Likewise, the nerve conduction velocities of those workers with peripheral neuropathy did not improve 1 year after being shifted from an exposed status to a nonexposed status.