Analysis of Sympathetic Skin Response in 40 Patients with Diabetes

Objective To study the significance of sympathetic skin response(SSR)to automatic nerve dysfunction in patients with diabetes.Methods SSR was studied in 40 patients with diabetes and 30 healthy controls.And the results were compared between the two groups.Results There was significant difference of latencies and amplitudes of SSR between two groups(P0.01).SSR was all elicited clearly in 30 healthy controls,but only 17 patients demonstrated abnormal SSR in at least one limb.23 patients(57.5%)had abnormal responses in SSR,and showed prolongation of latency and remarkable decreases in amplitude.The abnormal SSR was significantly correlated to the automonic nerve symptoms,pathological changes of peripheral neuropathy and the blood glucose level,but had nothing to do with diabetes duration.Conclusions SSR is an objective diagnostic method to assess the autonomic nerve dysfunction related to diabetes.