Determination of median nerve conduction velocity and F-wave minimal latency to diagnose early onset of diabetic neuropathy

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by many abnormalities and leads to long term complications like diabetic neuropathy, nephropathy and retinopathy. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy causes symptoms of peripheral nerve dysfunction. Sensory nerve conduction velocity (SNCV), distal sensory latency and F-waves minimal latency of median nerve are important parameters of electro diagnosis for early detection of diabetic neuropathy. The objective of the study was to determine the specificity and sensitivity of the sensory nerve conduction velocity and F-wave minimal latency of median nerve in diabetic subjects in early detection of diabetic neuropathy. Thirty subjects recruited for the study were divided into group A comprising of healthy subjects (n=10, age: 62.70±10.49 years) and group B consisting of diabetic subjects (n=20, age: 68.05±6.44 years). NICOLET VIKING QUEST instrument was used for the nerve conduction velocity test. SNCV of the median nerve significantly decreased in diabetic subject when compared with control group. However, the F-wave minimal latency was not specific and sensitive over SNCV to diagnose early diabetic neuropathy in clinically asymptomatic patients. We concluded that sensory nerve conduction velocity was much more sensitive and specific than F-wave minimal latency to detect early diabetic neuropathy.