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Motor-evoked potentials in diabetes mellitus
1Department of Neurology, Provincial Taoyuan General Hospital, Taoyuan, Taipei, Taiwan R.O.C.
Journal of the Formosan Medical Association = Taiwan Yi Zhi
|January 1, 1992
Summary
Diabetes mellitus (DM) significantly impacts the central motor pathway, prolonging motor-evoked potential (MEP) latencies and central conduction time (CCT). These central motor abnormalities correlate with DM duration and peripheral nerve dysfunction.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Endocrinology
- Neurology
Background:
- Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a systemic metabolic disorder.
- DM is known to cause peripheral neuropathy.
- The effect of DM on central motor pathways is less understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate central motor pathway conduction time in patients with DM.
- To compare central and peripheral nerve function in DM.
- To determine the relationship between central motor abnormalities and DM characteristics.
Main Methods:
- Magnetic stimulation of the motor cortex and cervical region to measure central conduction time (CCT).
- Recording motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) from thenar muscles.
- Testing median nerve motor conduction velocity (MCV) to assess peripheral nerve function.
Main Results:
- Patients with DM exhibited significantly increased latencies of cortical MEPs and prolonged CCT compared to controls.
- A significant correlation was observed between central motor abnormalities, DM duration, and peripheral nervous system impairment.
- Abnormalities were detected in 29% of cortical MEP latencies, 20% of cervical MEP latencies, 37% of CCT, 35% of distal median MCV latency, and 40% of median MCV.
Conclusions:
- Metabolic disturbances in DM affect both central and peripheral nervous systems.
- MEP studies offer objective measurements of central motor pathway function in DM.
- DM-related metabolic changes contribute to central neurophysiological alterations.