Relevance between sympathetic skin response and autonomic neuropathy in type 2 diabetes mellitus

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of sympathetic skin response(SSR)for autonomic neuropathy in type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods SSR test and conventional nerve conduction velocity(NCV)test were examined in 111 type 2 diabetic patients and 30 healthy controls.Hemoglobin A1c(HbAlc) and other biochemical indicators were detected among all the diabetic patients.Related factors of abnormal SSR were analyzed.Results Compared with the control group in SSR test,the latency of the case group extended and amplitude decreased(P0.05).Compared with the group of disease duration5 years in SSR test,the arm latency of 5-10 years group and duration≥10 years group extended(P0.05),but the amplitude was not significantly different(P0.05).There was no significant difference among these three groups in abnormal rates of SSR.The abnormal rate of SSR was related with peripheral neuropathy(P0.05),but not with autonomic symptoms(P0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that HbAlc was a relevant factor of abnormal SSR in type 2 diabetic patients.Conclusions SSR can be used to detect the early dysfunction of autonomic nerves in type 2 diabetic patients.HbAlc is a relevant factor of abnormal SSR in type 2 diabetic patients.