The sensitivity of sympathetic skin responses and standard electrophysiological methods in diagnosis of diabetic neuropathy.

This study was planned to compare the sensitivity of standard electrophysiologic methods and sympathetic skin responses (SSRs) in the diagnosis of diabetic neuropathy. Randomly selected 49 patients, who were followed by Haydarpaşa Numune Hospital Diabetes Outpatient Department and age matched 26 healthy persons were included in the study. All of the patients and control subjects were assessed by standard electrophysiologic methods (nerve conduction velocities, H-reflex, F-waves) and SSRs parameters. The abnormality ratios were 85.8% for standard electrophysiological methods, and 76.2% for SSRs. The higher abnormality ratio for SSRs was found important. As a result, it was concluded that standard electrophysiologic methods (including F-wave latency) and SSRs investigations for the early diagnosis of diabetic neuropathy, could be very useful in the prevention of morbidity.