Clinical Differences of Diabetic Polyneuropathy or Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in Patients with Diabetes

Original Article

J Korean Assoc EMG Electrodiagn Med 2015;17(1):14-19.
Published online June 30, 2015.

Received: 6 February 2015 • Revised: 19 May 2015 • Accepted: 19 May 2015

Abstract

Objective: To investigate whether there are clinical differences in patients with diabetic peripheral polyneuropathy (DPN) or carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Method: 587 patients with diabetes mellitus who had an electrodiagnostic study to investigate whether they had DPN or CTS were enrolled. The patients were divided into DPN, CTS, DPN+CTS groups. General characteristics, diabetes-related factors, and associated complications were compared between these two groups. Results: Of the 587 diabetic patients, 111 patients had DPN, CTS or both. Among 111 patients, 47 had DPN (42.3%), 29 had CTS (26.1%) and 35 had both (31.5%). The results showed that the duration of diabetes was associated with DPN. Patients who had both DPN and CTS had higher levels of Hb1Ac, PP2, albumin/creatinine ratio, and longer duration of diabetes than the patients who had only DPN or CTS. Conclusion: These results suggest that patients with both DPN and CTS showed a higher level of Hb1Ac, PP2, a longer duration of diabetes or renal complications, more so than seen in patients who have only DPN or CTS. Therefore, nerve conduction studies are recommended for patients who have these risk factors to be screened out for both DPN and CTS.

Key Words: diabetic polyneuropathy, carpal tunnel syndrome, diabetes