H-reflex Studies in Patients with Subclinical Diabetic Polyneuropathy

J Korean Neurol Assoc > Volume 17(5); 1999 > Article

Journal of the Korean Neurological Association 1999;17(5): 683-687.

무증상 당뇨병성 말초신경병증 환자의 H 반사 검사

이종걸, 이상수 이태연 박계연 이성현 한설희

충북대학교 의과대학 신경과학교실

H-reflex Studies in Patients with Subclinical Diabetic Polyneuropathy

Jong-Keol Lee, M.D., Sang-Soo Lee, M.D., Tai-Yeon Lee, M.D., Kye-Yeon Park, M.D., Sung-Hyun Lee, M.D., Seol-Heui Han, M.D.

Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University

Abstract

Background : The H-reflex has been used to assess the proximal nerve conduction in radiculopathy or peripheral neuropathy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical usefulness of the H-reflex in the diagnosis of subclin-ical diabetic polyneuropathy. Methods : Thirty-four diabetic patients (17 women and 17 men) who had neither motor nor sensory symptoms were selected (mean age 57.6 ± 12.9 years). The duration of diabetes varied from 0.5 to 24 years (mean 6.2 ± 5.1 years). None of the patients had any known cause of peripheral neuropathy other than diabetes. Twenty-seven healthy subjects (16 women and 11 men) were evaluated as an age-matched control group. H-reflex studies were performed using Braddom and Johnson’s methods. The presence and latencies of the H-reflexes were examined in both legs. Results : Twenty-four of the 34 patients (70.6%) had abnormal H-reflex responses (absent H-reflex in 17, prolonged latency in 7). However, only three out of the 27 control subjects (11.1%) had abnormal H-reflex responses (absent H-reflex in 1, prolonged latency in 2). Conclusions : Abnormalities in H-reflex studies have often been seen in diabetic subjects without overt neurological symptoms. This study suggests that the H-reflex study may be a useful screening tool in the diagnosis of subclinical diabetic polyneuropathy. J Kor Neurol Ass 17(5):683~687, 1999 Key Words : H-reflex, Diabetes, Subclinical diabetic polyneuropathy