Diabetes mellitus exacerbates motor and sensory impairment in CMT1A

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1A (CMT1A) is caused by a duplication of PMP22 on chromosome 17 and is the most commonly inherited demyelinating neuropathy. Diabetes frequently causes predominantly sensory neuropathy. Whether diabetes exacerbates CMT1A is unknown. We identified 10 patients with CMT1A and diabetes and compared their impairment with 48 age-matched control patients with CMT1A alone. Comparisons were made with the Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) neuropathy score (CMTNS) and by electrophysiology. The CMTNS was significantly higher in patients with diabetes (20.25 +/- 2.35) compared with controls (15.19 +/- 0.69; p = 0.01). Values were particularly higher for motor signs and symptoms. Seven of the 10 diabetic patients had CMTNS >20 (severe CMT), while only 7 of the 48 age-matched controls had scores >20. There was a trend for CMT1A patients with diabetes to have low compound muscle action potentials and sensory nerve action potentials, although nerve conduction velocities were not slower in diabetic patients compared with controls. Diabetes was associated with more severe motor and sensory impairment in patients with CMT1A.