[Diabetic neuropathy: a clinical and pathological study of 8 cases]

Eight cases of diabetic neuropathy are reported, including 5 cases of mixed type sensori-motor-autonomic neuropathy and 3 cases of mononeuropathy multiplex. Sural nerve examination was made in 8 cases. Pathological study showed not only demyelination of the myelinated fibres, but also axonal degeneration. There was different degree of thickening of vascular wall and stenosis of vascular lumen in these 8 cases, one of which showed thrombosis of small vessels in between the nerve fascicles. Marked thickening of basement membrane of the endothelial cells of the blood vessel and of the Schwann's cells was identified by electron-microscopy. The muscles in 5 cases showed neurogenic changes, and one of these 5 cases exhibited syndrome of diabetic amyotrophy. The pathological changes, clinicopathological classification and pathogenesis of the disease are discussed.