Introduction: The sural sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) amplitude is a measure of the number of axons. We tested the hypothesis that sural SNAP amplitude can be used as a marker in screening, severity evaluation, and follow-up of diabetic distal symmetrical polyneuropathy (DSPN).
Methods: Patients with type 2 diabetes underwent nerve conduction studies and were followed for 6 years. Composite amplitude scores (CASs) were determined to evaluate DSPN severity.
Results: Sural SNAP amplitudes were negatively correlated with CAS (r = -.790, P < .0001), and changes in sural SNAP amplitudes were negatively correlated with those of CAS after controlling for follow-up duration (r = -.531, P = .028).
Discussion: When a patient's baseline sural SNAP amplitude is above zero, it can be used as one measure of DSPN in screening, severity evaluation, and follow-up. However, if the patient's sural SNAP value is zero, CAS can be used as a follow-up measure.
Keywords: composite amplitudes score; diabetic distal symmetrical polyneuropathy; follow-up; screening; severity evaluation; sural sensory nerve action potential; type 2 diabetes.
© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.