[Contribution of electroneuromyography to the evaluation of neuropathy in diabetic patients]

To determine the type and the frequency of diabetic neuropathy, diagnosed by electroneuromyography, in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, and the correlation between the neuropathy diagnosis and clinical symptoms.

Cross-sectional descriptive and correlative of patients with diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus, sent for electroneuromyography study in 2000. Study place: Laboratory of electrodiagnosis of the Unidad de Medicina Física y Rehabilitación Región Norte. Measuring: Electroneuromyography was performed, and the type and frequency of the diabetic neuropathy, as well as the presence of clinical systematization, according to the initial diagnosis, were assessed. Furthermore, sex, occupation, and medical unit of reference were identified.

Measures of central tendency and dispersion, as well as association by means of quadruple correlation ratio were considered.

219 electrodiagnostic studies were carried out in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, of which 152 were males. The age average was of 54.3 +/- 8.9 years old. The prevailing occupation was that of housewives with 128. The references of the Hospital General de Zona 24 were 39; those of Unidad de Medicina Física y Rehabilitación Región Norte were 32, and those of the Hospital General de Zona 98 were 28. There was a presence of clinical systematization in 186 (84.9%) patients. The electroneuromyography diagnosed diabetic neuropathy in 174 patients, of which 89 correspond to neuropathy due to segmental demyelination, and 85 to mixed neuropathy; in 21 patients, the electroneuromyography was normal. Of the 186 patients with clinical systematization, the electroneuromyography was positive in 170, with r = 0.70.

The prevalence of diabetic neuropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus is of 80%, the type of variety is of segmental demyelination in 51% and of mixed type in 49%. There is a high correlation between the clinical diagnosis of diabetic neuropathy and the confirmation by electroneuromyography.