[Diabetic neuropathy and lesion of the vessels]

Data from the literature concerning the frequent lack of correlation between the clinical manifestations of diabetic neuropathy on the one hand and the morphofunctional status of the appropriate nerves, disorders in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, and the influence of antidiabetic therapy on metabolism and the clinical picture of diabetic neuropathy on the other, are presented. In this connection, abundant evidence of frequent affection of various blood vessels, particularly small and smallest, in diabetic neuropathy is considered. But even these data attest to a non-infrequent lack in diabetic neuropathy of the involvement of the appropriate vessels, particularly the lack of basal membrane thickening which is a most common indication to the diabetic involvement of capillaries. Attention is drawn to the possible role of genetic heterogeneity of people with regard to the development of various forms of diabetic neuropathy.