Clinical and electrophysiological profiles of patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy:  A cross-sectional study of 50 patients.

Rajalaxmi  Satapathy; Prerana Dash; Pragateshnu  Das

doi:10.51168/sjhrafrica.v6i9.2047

Authors

Dr. Rajalaxmi Satapathy Associate professor Neurology,Kalinga institute of medical sciences KIIT Deemed to be Universi
Dr. Prerana Dash Associate Professor of Neurology, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, KIIT University, Odisha, India
Dr. Pragateshnu Das Associate Professor of Neurology, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, KIIT University, Odisha, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51168/sjhrafrica.v6i9.2047

Keywords:

diabetic peripheral neuropathy, nerve conduction studies, clinical profile, type 2 diabetes, Neuropathy Disability Score

Abstract

Background:

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is a prevalent complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus, often presenting with sensory and motor deficits. This study aimed to characterize the clinical and electrophysiological profiles of patients with DPN and explore correlations between symptom severity and nerve conduction parameters.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Neurology Outpatient Department of a tertiary care centre of Eastern India. Fifty patients with type 2 diabetes and clinical signs of peripheral neuropathy were enrolled. The Neuropathy Disability Score (NDS) was used for clinical grading. Nerve conduction studies (NCS) of the peroneal, tibial, and sural nerves were performed.

Results:

Sensory symptoms were predominant (84%), with sensorimotor involvement in 16%. Patients with higher NDS scores showed significantly reduced sural SNAP and peroneal CMAP amplitudes. A strong inverse correlation was observed between NDS and sural SNAP amplitude (r = –0.68, p < 0.001) and peroneal conduction velocity (r = –0.55, p = 0.002). Sural nerve abnormalities were present in 90% of patients.

Conclusion:

Electrophysiological parameters, particularly sural SNAP amplitude, correlate strongly with clinical severity in DPN. Combined use of NDS and NCS enhances early detection and stratification of neuropathy severity.

Recommendations

Adopt Combined Screening Protocols: Integrate NDS scoring with targeted NCS, especially sural SNAP amplitude, as a routine diagnostic approach in diabetic clinics. This dual assessment can improve early detection and stratification of DPN severity.

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