Sudoscan's Effectiveness in Identifying Chronic Kidney Disease in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) represents a significant public health issue, particularly prevalent among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). CKD occurs in approximately 20% to 40% of adults with diabetes mellitus. Sudoscan potentially detects CKD early, providing a non-invasive and convenient alternative to traditional screening methods that rely on serum creatinine and urine albumin levels. This research involves 271 patients from a single medical center over one year, with all participants providing informed consent. The prevalence of CKD in our group was 26.5% (n = 72). This study integrates a comprehensive examination, including anthropometric measurements, biochemical profiles, and Sudoscan's electrochemical skin conductance testing. CKD diagnosis was confirmed via estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR). The aim of this study was to explore the utility of Sudoscan in detecting CKD among patients with T2DM. Statistical analysis reveals moderate correlations between Sudoscan scores and traditional CKD markers like eGFR and albuminuria. It is beneficial in settings where conventional testing is less accessible, suggesting potential for broader CKD screening programs. Key findings suggest that Sudoscan can identify early renal dysfunction with reasonable sensitivity and specificity. Integrating Sudoscan in regular CKD screening could enhance early detection, allowing for timely interventions to prevent progression to end-stage renal disease and reduce healthcare burdens associated with advanced CKD. The results contribute to the ongoing assessment of innovative technologies in managing chronic diseases related to diabetes.

The Relationship between the Ewing Test, Sudoscan Cardiovascular Autonomic Neuropathy Score and Cardiovascular Risk Score Calculated with SCORE2-Diabetes.

Background and Objectives: Cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) is a severe complication of diabetes mellitus (DM) strongly linked to a nearly five-fold higher risk of cardiovascular mortality. Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) are a significant cohort in which these assessments have particular relevance to the increased cardiovascular risk inherent in the condition. Materials and Methods: This study aimed to explore the subtle correlation between the Ewing test, Sudoscan-cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy score, and cardiovascular risk calculated using SCORE 2 Diabetes in individuals with T2DM. The methodology involved detailed assessments including Sudoscan tests to evaluate sudomotor function and various cardiovascular reflex tests (CART). The cohort consisted of 211 patients diagnosed with T2DM with overweight or obesity without established ASCVD, aged between 40 to 69 years. Results: The prevalence of CAN in our group was 67.2%. In the study group, according SCORE2-Diabetes, four patients (1.9%) were classified with moderate cardiovascular risk, thirty-five (16.6%) with high risk, and one hundred seventy-two (81.5%) with very high cardiovascular risk. Conclusions: On multiple linear regression, the SCORE2-Diabetes algorithm remained significantly associated with Sudoscan CAN-score and Sudoscan Nephro-score and Ewing test score. Testing for the diagnosis of CAN in very high-risk patients should be performed because approximately 70% of them associate CAN. Increased cardiovascular risk is associated with sudomotor damage and that Sudoscan is an effective and non-invasive measure of identifying such risk.

The Importance of Evaluating Sudomotor Function in the Diagnosis of Cardiac Autonomic Neuropathy.

INTRODUCTION:  Cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) is a disorder affecting the autonomic nerves that regulate the cardiovascular system, leading to irregular heart rate and blood pressure control. It is commonly associated with diabetes mellitus but can also result from other conditions such as autoimmune disorders, chronic kidney disease, alcohol abuse, and certain medications. Screening for CAN is essential, particularly in individuals with poor glycemic control, cardiovascular risk factors, or complications. Early identification of CAN is vital for timely intervention to prevent or manage cardiovascular complications effectively. Regular screening helps detect CAN before symptoms emerge, enabling early intervention to slow or halt its progression. This study examined the relationship between sudomotor function and cardiovascular reflex tests. MATERIAL AND METHODS:  This was a cross-sectional study conducted between June 2019 and June 2020. The study included 271 subjects aged 18 years and above who provided informed consent, were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and were overweight or obese. Exclusion criteria encompassed patients with other types of diabetes, pregnant women, those with recent neoplasm diagnoses, stroke sequelae, history of myocardial infarction, or pelvic limb amputations. The assessment of cardiac autonomic neuropathy involved conducting an electrocardiogram and evaluating the QTc interval in the morning before taking medication. Additionally, cardiovascular reflex tests (CART) were conducted, including assessments of heart rate variability during deep breathing, the Valsalva maneuver, and changes in orthostatic position. Simultaneously, the diagnosis of CAN was assessed by performing a sweat test using a Sudoscan assessment (Impeto Medical, Moulineaux, France).  Results: More than half of the participants (52%, n=143) were female. Significant differences in statistical measures were noted between females and males regarding age, systolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, A1c level, total cholesterol, triglycerides, gamma-glutamyl transferase, and bilirubin levels. Within the CAN-diagnosed group (CAN+), 40.92% were classified as mild cases (n=90), 47.27% as moderate cases (n=104), and 11.81% as severe cases (n=26). Among the CAN+ group, 54% (n=119) were women. Electrochemical skin conductance was lower in the CAN+ group than the CAN- group in hands (67.34±15.51 µS versus 72.38±12.12 µS, p=0.008) and feet (73.37±13.38 µS versus 82.84 ±10.29 µS, p<0.001). The Sudoscan-CAN score significantly correlated with Ewing scores (r= 0.522, p<0.001). In multiple linear regression analysis, the Sudoscan-CAN score remained significantly associated with age, high BMI, long-standing diabetes, and Ewing score. CONCLUSIONS:  Sudoscan demonstrates potential in identifying patients with an increased risk of CAN. Its integration into clinical practice can improve patient outcomes through early detection, risk stratification, and personalized treatment approaches. Its non-invasive, portable, and user-friendly features render it suitable for utilization in outreach programs or resource-constrained settings as part of screening efforts designed to pinpoint high-risk individuals for additional assessment.

Placenta changes in pregnancy with gestational diabetes.

Placental damage may be responsible for the fetal complications in pregnancies complicated by diabetes. We have analyzed the prevalence of gestational diabetes (GD) in a population of 109 pregnant women, the risk factors and the placental changes associated with gestational diabetes. Tests carried out were oral glucose tolerance test at 24-28 weeks of gestation, using the IADPSG (International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups) criteria for gestational diabetes, glycated hemoglobin, fasting insulin, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, triglycerides, two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound and, also, there were analyzed macro and microscopic placental fragments from pregnant women with÷without GD. It has been recorded the weight of placenta at birth and there were analyzed the possible pathological changes. The prevalence of GD was 11.9%. We have applied the direct logistic regression to determine the impact of some factors over the probability of association with gestational diabetes. The most powerful predictor was the placental maturity grade, the patients with decreased maturity grade having chances 52.6 times higher than those with an increased placental maturity grade to associate gestational diabetes. Sizes of placentas in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus were significantly increased than in patients without this diagnosis (p=0.012) from week 24-28. Pathological changes were discovered in six of the 13 placentas of women with gestational diabetes mellitus, independent of the level of glycated hemoglobin (p=0.72). The level of hyperglycemia is only partially associated with the presence of placental changes, which may be caused by other maternal factors.

Diabetic neuropathy--choices of treatment.

Diabetic neuropathy represents a heterogeneous pathology taking place during diabetes mellitus (DM) evolution, hiding possibilities for rapid evolution which threaten even the life of the diabetic person. As a result, the recognition as precocious as possible of the neuropathy-induced alterations and the ways of treating this complication are essential. Diabetic neuropathy is classified in peripheral and vegetative, each of them with numerous clinical forms. Nevertheless, its etiopathogeny remains not totally understood, many theories existing for explaining it, its development being probably the result of a mixture of pathogenic mechanisms. Although there are difficulties in appreciation of the neuropathy prevalence in diabetic people, it is generally known that this alteration is one of the most frequent and invalidant major complication that affects this population, treatment as precocious as possible being essential. alpha-lipoic acid, substance with antioxidant properties, plays a central role in the energetic metabolism, principally functioning as a coenzyme in multienzymatic mitochondrial complexes alpha-lipoic acid has complex actions on different levels of the human organism, having many indications in different diseases, including DM. The results of numerous clinical studies have confirmed its efficacy in treating diabetic neuropathy. The present study has proposed itself to investigate the long-term effect of the short-term i.v. treatment with Thiogamma 600 (alpha-lipoic acid) in patients having type I or 2 DM, proving neuropathy symptoms and signs reduction evaluated in 3 months time, without metabolic control of the disease. If this amelioration proves to be persistent in time, with or without continuing the medication, this treatment will represent the most evident and efficient present solution in neuropathy.