[Dupuytren's contracture as a concomitant disease in diabetes mellitus]

100 randomized diabetic patients were examined for the occurrence of Dupuytren's palmar contractions and for possible relations to the usual chronic diabetic complications, to metabolic control and to social and environmental factors. The incidence of the Dupuytren's palmar contraction in the total diabetic population was 42%. Contractions were most frequent on the tendons of the third and fourth fingers with a preponderance of the right side. The relative frequency of the Dupuytren's palmar contraction increased with age and the duration of diabetes mellitus. There were no relations to the chronic diabetic complications or the metabolic control. In conclusion Dupuytren's palmar contraction appears to be an age-dependent, but not specifical diabetic process, although it appears to be accelerated by diabetes mellitus.