Is nerve growth factor deficiency a marker for early detection of subclinical diabetic neuropathy?

ABSTRACT

Nerve growth factor [NGF] and nerve conductive study [NCS] were evaluated in 80 diabetic patients [35 males and 45 females and their mean age was 44.2 +/- 7.2 years] and 15 healthy control subjects [6 males and 9 females, their mean age was 43.7 +/- 6.1 years and their neuropathy score was zero]. The patients were classified into three subgroups. Subgroup A [diabetic without neuropathy] included 20 patients. Subgroup B [diabetics with subclinical neuropathy] included 40 patients. Subgroup C [diabetic with neuropathy] included 20 patients. Also, patients were classified according to some variables [according to age into two subgroups, according to duration of diabetes into three subgroups and according to type of treatment into two subgroups]. It can be concluded that, nerve growth factor is deficient in diabetics, nerve growth factor is a sensitive and reliable marker for early detection of subclinical neuropathy in diabetics, and early insulin prescription to type II diabetics who are in need could be of neuroprotection value