Diabetic neuropathy and other diabetic complications at the Diabetic Neuropathy Center of the University of Debrecen

Introduction: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus is significantly increasing worldwide. Distal sensorimotor neuropathy (DSPN) is the most common and the earliest detectable microvascular complication. Due to its diverse clinical appearance and atypical symptoms, DSPN is often recognized in an advanced stage.
Aim and Method: In our study, the data of 431 patients who were examined using the Neurometer® between 2011 and 2018 at the Diabetic Neuropathy Center of the University of Debrecen were processed and the correlations between cardiovascular and microvascular complications, laboratory parameters and the severity of DSPN were investigated.
Results: The average age of patients was 63.4 years, 62% of them were women, and 92% had type 2 diabetes mellitus. The average duration of diabetes was 13.7 years. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) was diagnosed in 42% of the patients. The incidence of retinopathy was 12%, persistent microalbuminuria was 16%. Despite DSNP complaints, neuronal damage could not be detected in 19%; in the examined patients 49% had mild, 19% moderate and 13% severe neuropathy. Diabetes-related neurological damage was more serious in the presence of both diabetic retinopathy (p<0.001) and microalbuminuria (p<0.001). The incidence of these microvascular complications and the severity of DSPN showed a significant positive correlation (p<0.001). There was no correlation between the severity of peripheral neuropathy and the development of CVD, and we did not find any correlations between the severity of DSPN and CVD.
Conclusion: Based on our investigation, correlation between the progression of diabetic neuropathy and cardiovascular complications was not found, although the progression of diabetic neuropathy indicated the development of other microvascular diseases. Peripheral neurological examination using the Neurometer® is appropriate for controlling the DSPN status and the establishment of the severity of neuropathy determines the quality of life in diabetic patients. Among these patients, the risk of CVD can be assessed by Ewing's test for autonomic nervous system function. Orv Hetil. 2020; 161(30): 1243-1251.