J Korean Neurol Assoc.  1990 Dec;8(2):289-298.

A Study of Sympathetic Skin Response in Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetic Patients

• Kim KK
• Hwang YM
• Kim JS
• Lee KU
• Myung HJ

Abstract

In order to examine the usefulness of the sympathetic skin response(SSR) as an indicator of autonomic dysfunction, we measured the amplitudes and latencies of the SSR in 64 consecutive non-insulin dependent diabetic patients, which were compared with those of 54 normal controls. The SSR on stimulation of median and posterior tibial nerves with EMG electrographer were correlated with nerve conductoin velocity(NCV) findings of median, posterior tibial and sural nerves and with beat-to-beat variation, measured as difference beeen maximum and minimum heart rate during deep breathing. Diabetic patients were also divided into 5 subgroups according to the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy, autonomic neuropathy and NCV findings for further comparisons. The results were as follows: 1. The shapes of the SSR were similar in the hand and the foot, but the amplitude was consistently greater in the hand than in the foot(p<0.001). The latency was shorter in the hand than in the foot(P<0.001). 2. The latencies of the foot and hand SSR in the diabetic patients were not significantly different from the normal controls. On the other hands, the amnplitude of the hand and foot SSR was significantly reduced compared to the control(p<0.001). 3. Of the patients with absent foot SSR, 20(59%) had two or more symptoms of autonomic involvement, whereas 14(14%) had no autonomic symptoms. These difference were significant(p

Keyword

sympathetic skin response; non-insulin dependent diabetes; autonomic neuropathy; peripheral neuropathy; HRD; beart rate difference

MeSH Terms

Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetic Neuropathies
Extremities
Foot
Hand
Heart Rate
Humans
Peripheral Nervous System Diseases
Respiration
Skin*
Sural Nerve
Tibial Nerve