Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 26, 2025

Author Spotlight: Integrating Tai Chi with Mindfulness Training to Achieve an Effective Mind-Body Exercise
Published on: July 14, 2023
Clinical Tools for Peripheral Neuropathy to Exclude Cardiovascular Autonomic Neuropathy in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Kalliopi Pafili1, Grigorios Trypsianis2, Dimitrios Papazoglou3
1Diabetes Centre, Second Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece. kpafili@hotmail.com.
Introduction:
Assessment for cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) remains difficult in everyday clinical practice. We sought to examine the diagnostic utility of various simple tools for diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) in the detection of CAN in type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Methods:
We examined 153 type 2 diabetes mellitus subjects by various DPN tools (vibration perception threshold, 10 g Semmes-Weinstein monofilament, Ipswich touch test, NC-stat®/DPNCheck, neuropathy disability score) for the detection of CAN. CAN was diagnosed by the standardised cardiovascular autonomic reflex function tests.
Results:
For the diagnosis of CAN, assessment of small nerve fibre function (pinprick sensation, temperature perception) yielded a very high negative predictive value (97%), with high sensitivity (89%) and moderate specificity (73%). The vibration perception threshold was second in diagnostic utility (91% negative predictive value, 62% sensitivity and 75% specificity).
Conclusions:
Based on their high negative predictive value, simple tools for DPN may prove useful to exclude CAN in type 2 diabetes mellitus. These encouraging results merit further evaluation to enable wider screening for CAN.
More Related Videos
11:29Corneal Confocal Microscopy: A Novel Non-invasive Technique to Quantify Small Fibre Pathology in Peripheral Neuropathies
Published on: January 3, 2011
09:39Establishing a Mouse Model of a Pure Small Fiber Neuropathy with the Ultrapotent Agonist of Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid Type 1
Published on: February 13, 2018
Related Concept Videos
Peripheral Arterial Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Evaluation
Peripheral Artery Disease IV: Nursing Management
Diabetes: Management and Pharmacotherapy
Insulin remains the cornerstone of treatment for most patients with type 1 and many...
Diabetes: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Complications
Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational
Diabetes Mellitus: Overview and Type I Subtype
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. As a result, the body is unable to produce sufficient insulin, and individuals with...