ABSTRACT
Objective:To analyze the electrophysiological characteristics and influencing factors of peripheral neuropathy in Parkinson's disease(PD)patients.Methods:Totally 68 PD patients and 30 controls were selected for neuroelectrophysiological evaluation, including items such as limb motor nerve terminal latency(LP)and amplitude and sensory nerve conduction velocity(SCV)and amplitude.Age, sex, serum folate, vitamin B 12, homocysteine and hemoglobin levels were also recorded for the two groups.The Hoehn-Yahr scale was used to assess patients and levodopa daily doses and levodopa equivalent daily doses were calculated.According to the criteria for neuroelectrophysiological abnormalities, 31 PD patients were found to have peripheral neuropathy and 37 PD patients did not have peripheral neuropathy. Results:In PD patients, a total of 952 peripheral nerves were examined, with 21.7% having motor nerve involvement(118/544)and 72.8%(297/of 408)having sensory nerve involvement.In the control group, a total of 420 peripheral nerves were examined, with 4.2%(10/240)having motor nerve involvement and 26.1%(47/180)having sensory nerve involvement.Compared with the control group, the wave amplitudes of motor nerve terminals were reduced in the PD group for the ulnar nerve( t=2.172/2.345, right/left), median nerve( t=2.104/2.543, right/left), and tibial nerve( t=2.340/2.444, right/left)(all P<0.05); compared with the control group, the wave amplitudes of sensory nerve terminals of the ulnar nerve( Z=3.535/3.439, right/ left), median nerve( Z=3.076/2.937, right/left), and peroneal nerve( Z=2.795/2.795, right/left)were all reduced in the PD group(all P<0.05); compared with the control group, sensory conduction velocities of the ulnar nerve( t=2.326/2.487, right/left), median nerve( t=3.269/2.386, right/left), and peroneal nerve( t=2.551/2.418, right/left)were prolonged(all P<0.05). The rate of abnormalities with the sensory nerve terminal wave amplitude( χ2=149.814, P<0.001)was higher than that of abnormalities with motor nerve terminal wave amplitude in PD patients; the rate of abnormalities with the sensory nerve terminal wave amplitude( χ2=58.364, P<0.001)was higher than that of abnormalities with sensory conduction velocities.Logistic regression analysis showed that increased folic acid( OR=0.825, 95% CI: 0.637-0.990)and vitamin B 12( OR=0.996, 95% CI: 0.991-1.000)were protective factors for PD peripheral neuropathy; H-Y score, levodopa daily dose( OR=1.009, 95% CI: 1.003-1.015), and increased homocysteine( OR=1.151, 95% CI: 1.041-1.273)were risk factors for PD peripheral neuropathy.After excluding confounding factors, H-Y classification( OR=3.213, 95% CI: 1.342-7.713)remained an independent risk factor for peripheral nerve injury in PD patients. Conclusions:In PD patients with peripheral neuropathy, both motor nerves and sensory nerves are involved, sensory nerves are more significantly involved, and axonal damage is more important than myelin loss; increased H-Y classification is an independent risk factor for peripheral nerve injury in PD patients.