T-reflex Changes in Asymptomatic Diabetics.
- Author:
Kyu Hwan AN
1
;
Yong Jin CHO
;
Sang Hwa KIM
;
Eun Hi SA
;
Yong Bin YIM
;
Dae Seong KIM
;
Dae Soo JUNG
;
Kyu Hyun PARK
Author Information
1. Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Pusan National University.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Diabetes mellitus;
Subclinical neuropathy;
Ankle jerk;
Electronic T-reflex;
Electrophysiology
- MeSH:
Ankle;
Depression;
Diabetes Mellitus;
Diabetic Neuropathies;
Electrophysiology;
Humans;
Leg;
Neural Conduction;
Peripheral Nerves;
Peripheral Vascular Diseases;
Peroneal Nerve;
Polyneuropathies
- From:Journal of the Korean Neurological Association
1999;17(5):675-682
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: The loss or depression of ankle jerk has been considered one of the earliest physical findings of diabetic polyneuropathy, even in asymptomatic cases. Therefore, the electronic ankle T-reflex test (ATR) could be a sensitive, objective test for the early detection of polyneuropathy among diabetics. METHOD: In order to verify the sensitivity and usefulness of the ATR, the ankle jerk and ATR were studied in 99 legs of 50 patients with diabetes who did not have any symptoms related to neuropathy or peripheral vascular disease at the time of the study. A sensory nerve conduction study (SNCS) of sural and superficial peroneal nerves was also performed and the results were compared with the ATR. RESULTS: The ATR response was abnormal in 42.4% of the legs tested and was more sensitive than the sural SNCS (18.2%) or superficial peroneal SNCS (30.3%) in revealing subclinical abnormalities. Our results confirm that ATR abnormalities in asymptomatic diabetics are more frequent than conventional SNCS abnormalities and are a reliable indicator of peripheral nerve dysfunction in diabetic patients. CONCLUSIONS: The ATR seems to be a sensitive test in detecting subclinical abnormalities in diabetics and would be useful especially in early or equivocal cases of
