Frequency of peripheral polyneuropathy in a cohort of diabetic patients having symptoms of polyneuropathy using electrodiagnostic procedure

To determine the frequency of peripheral polyneuropathy in patients having diabetes mellitus with symptoms of polyneuropathy using electrodiagnostic procedure. Observational descriptive study. Armed Forces Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine [AFIRM], Rawalpindi. June 2008 to June 2009 [one year]. Sixty three patients of diabetes mellitus having symptoms of peripheral polyneuropathy fulfilling the inclusion criteria were sampled by purposive sampling. Informed consent was taken. Their demographic data and common symptoms were recorded. All patients underwent Electrodiagnostic procedures for the presence or absence of polyneuropathy, using nerve conduction studies by recording amplitudes, velocities and latencies of minimal two [sural, peroneal] and maximum six nerves. Electromyography was performed only in patients with abnormalities in nerve conduction findings or conditions other than polyneuropathy. Frequencies as percentages were calculated for the presence or absence of polyneuropathy, type of polyneuropathy, associated symptoms and other related diagnosis [if any]. There were thirty three males [52.4%] and thirty female [47.6%]. Forty one [65%] patients had confirmed polyneuropathy on electrodiagnosis, out of which forty patients [97.6%] had axonal polyneuropathy, only one patient [2.4%] had demyelinating polyneuropathy. Twenty two had no polyneuropathy [35%], out of which 65% had other diagnosis like Carpal Tunnel Syndrome [CTS], Radiculopathy and other Compression neuropathies. Majority of symptomatic diabetic patients actually had polyneuropathy. Electrodiagnostic studies are a sensitive tool for early detection of peripheral polyneuropathy, its types and extent