ABSTRACT
Objective To study the features and differences of electromyography of diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) and alcoholic peripheral neuropathy (APN ), and to provide reference basis for the clinical application of electromyography.Methods 58 patients with DPN and 30 patients with APN were used as subjects. Nerve conduction studies (NCS)and sympathetic skin response (SSR)were performed in the patients, all data were analyzed.Results In the patients with DPN, the abnormalities of NCS and SSR were increased with the prolongation of the time diabetes,and the abnormality of SSR was higher than that of NCS(P<0.05).In the patients with APN, both demyelination and axonal loss in motor and sensory nerves were significantly involved, and the abnomalities of NCS and SSR were higher than those of the DPN patients (P<0.05 or P<0.01);but the proximal nerves were just involoved mildly. Conclusion Both DPN and APN have characteristic electrophysiological features.Early electromyography is useful for the early diagnosis of DPN and APN.According to the electrophysiological features of DPN and APN,the reason of peripheral neuropathy in the patients who have diabetes mellitus and alcoholism could be differentiated.