An Evaluation Of Vibration Perception Threshold (Vpt) Testing As An Early Predictive Diagnostic Marker Of Neuropathy In Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a systemic metabolic disorder associated with serious life threatening complications; diabetic neuropathy is most common among them. Evaluation is often difficult because of variation in the patient’s   interpretation of the symptoms, as well as the inherent subjectivity of sensory examination. The early recognition and appropriate management of neuropathy in patients with DM is important as asymptomatic patient are at increased risk of developing diabetic foot with slight injury. In present study we have assessed the impairment of vibration perception threshold (VPT) using biothesiometer.  Out of 50 diabetic cases, 33 (66%) were female and 17 (34%) were male patients.  Among them, 39 (78%) had abnormal VPT, of which 27 (54%) showed sever grade of neuropathy, 8 (16%) had moderate and 4 (8%) had mild grade of VPT. Out of 22 cases, 20 patients with diabetes for more than 5 years had severe sensory loss. The association between long duration of diabetes mellitus and neuropathy was statistically significant (p>0.001). We can conclude based on the study results that all diabetic cases irrespective of clinical symptoms of neuropathy should be assessed by VPT for early diagnosis & future therapy to prevent progression of disease.