Neuropad as a diagnostic tool for diabetic autonomic and sensorimotor neuropathy

• Published in: Diabetic medicine 2009-07, Vol.26 (7), p.686-692
• Main Authors: Spallone, V., Morganti, R., Siampli, M., Fedele, T., D'Amato, C., Cacciotti, L., Maiello, M. R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; autonomic neuropathy; Biological and medical sciences; Cold Temperature; diabetes; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - complications; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - complications; Diabetes. Impaired glucose tolerance; Diabetic Neuropathies - diagnosis; diagnosis; Endocrine pancreas. Apud cells (diseases); Endocrinopathies; Etiopathogenesis. Screening. Investigations. Target tissue resistance; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; peripheral neuropathy; Polyneuropathies - diagnosis; Statistics as Topic; Thermosensing; Time Factors; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Vertebrates: endocrinology; Vibration; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0742-3071; 1464-5491
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1464-5491.2009.02760.x

Aims  The aim of the present study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of the Neuropad sudomotor test for diabetic cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) and diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN), the latter assessed using a multi‐level diagnostic approach. Methods  In 51 diabetic patients, CAN, symptoms and signs of DPN, vibration perception threshold (VPT), cold (CTT) and warm thermal perception thresholds (WTT) were measured. Neuropad response was determined as normal (complete colour change) or abnormal (absent or incomplete colour change). The time until the complete colour change (CCC time) was recorded. Results  CCC time showed significant correlations with all the neurological parameters, the strongest of which were with Valsalva ratio (ρ = −0.64, P