F-wave for evaluating earlier diabetic peripheral neuropathy

Zuneng LU; Jing LI; Hongjuan DONG; Guilan ZHOU; Sheng HU; Zhenzhen WANG

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

The minimal latency and conduction velocity of F-wave have been widely used for the detection of varied neurological disorders,whereas the significance and the diagnostic value for the other parameters of F wave are seldom reported. How sensitive are these parameters in the earlier evaluation of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) ?

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate the evaluating value of F-wave parameters for the earlier DPN, providing references for earlier clinical rehabilitative intervention.

DESIGN:

Case-control study with type 2 diabetic patients and health people as subjects.

SETTING:

The wards and outpatients in the Departments of Neurology and Endocrinology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University.

PARTICIPANTS:

Between January 1999 and December 2000, there were totally 106 patients with type 2 diabetic mellitus(DM) at the wards and outpatients in the department of neurology and endocrinology in Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, including 64 males and 42 females, with the average age of (55 ± 13) years and the average DM course of (10.2 ± 4. 8)years. Meanwhile, 75 healthy volunteers were enrolled in the control group,including 45 males and 30 females, with the mean age of(54 ± 12) years.Two groups were matched in age and leg length( P ＞ 0. 05).

INTERVENTIONS:

Using Nicolet Viking-Ⅳ, F wave and M-wave parameters of tibial nerve stimulation were analyzed.MAIN OUTCOME

MEASURES:

The minimum latency (Fmin), duration (Fdur), amplitude(Famp) and area(Farca) of F wave; and the amplitude (Mamp)and aera(Marea) of M-wave.neuropathy( n = 30), there were 8 cases(the abnormal rate being 27% ) with increased Fdur, 4(13% ) with prolonged Fmin and 2(7% ) with increased F/Mamp and F/Marea increased significantly in the patients with DPN( n = 76).mality rate of Fdur was significantly higher (96% vs 21%, P ＜0.01), the abnormality rate of Fmin was significantly lower(51% vs 76%, P ＜ 0.05 ) and there were no significant difference of other parameters( P ＞ 0.05) in the patients with mild DPN subgroup ( n = 47).diagnostic parameter for earlier DPN, and therefore detect the sub-clinical DPN, and the proximal may be earlier involved than the distal.