Updates in the correlation of electroneuromyographic findings in diabetic polyneuropathy

The diabetic neuropathy is the most common microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus. The reported prevalence ranges from 10-90%. Electrophysiological alterations can be demonstrated in nearly 100% of diabetics.

To know the current profile of the patient with diabetic polyneuropathy.

Retrospective and descriptive study from 2015 to 2016. Reports of electroneuromyography with diabetic polyneuropathy result were analyzed, evaluating neuroconduction parameters of motor and sensory nerves, late F responses and myography. Descriptive statistics, Student's t-test and Pearson's correlation coefficient were used.

The sample included 72 men (65.5%) and 38 women (34.5%), mean age 61.2 years, mean duration of diabetes of 9.9 years. The most affected nerve was superficial peroneus, absent in 70% of the population.A positive correlation was found (p < 0.001) for the affection of all the nerves symmetrically and predominantly in neuroconduction velocities of the lower and upper limbs.

The most frequent electrophysiological finding in diabetic polyneuropathy was sensory affection, being more severe in lower limbs. A finding in patients with recent diagnosis is the prolongation of proximal latencies in the lower extremities.