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Vibration perception threshold, complaints and sensory examination in diabetic patients

1991; Wiley; Volume: 83; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1111/j.1600-0404.1991.tb04705.x

1600-0404

Joukje van der Naalt, V. Fidler, H.J.G.H. Oosterhuis,

Parkinson's Disease Mechanisms and Treatments

The vibration perception threshold (VPT) was investigated by means of a biothesiometer among 40 patients with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. The age as well as the duration of the disease affected the VPT. However, a correlation between the VPT and the rate of metabolic control measured through the glycolysed Hb (HbAlc) could not be demonstrated. In early stages abnormalities were already detectable in the feet. The VPT was elevated in 13 of 20 patients with sensory complaints and in 4 of 20 patients without complaints. Routine neurological examinations such as light touch and pinprick sensation were less sensitive to diagnose neuropathy. In detecting early signs of diabetic neuropathy in an outpatient population the determination of the VPT is a sensitive tool.