Electrically evoked nociceptive potentials for early detection of diabetic small-fiber neuropathy.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: This study investigated the utility of pain-related evoked potentials (PREP's) elicited by a nociceptive electrical stimulation of the skin (= electrically evoked nociceptive potentials) in early detection of diabetic small-fiber neuropathy. METHODS: We studied 36 'young' (19-35 years) and 24 'older' (36-65 years) healthy subjects as well as 35 patients (35-64 years) with diabetes and neuropathic symptoms and 22 patients (34-64 years) with diabetes without neuropathic symptoms. Only patients with normal standard nerve conduction testing were included. RESULTS: In patients with neuropathic symptoms, we found a significant increase in PREP latencies and decrease of amplitudes elicited from both, upper and lower limbs. In non-symptomatic diabetic patients, we observed PREP abnormalities from lower limbs only. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that the method of pain-related evoked potentials elicited by a nociceptive electrical stimulation of the skin may contribute to the early detection of diabetic sensory neuropathy.