Kamel J, Knight-Sadler RO, Cook M, Roberts L. Single-fiber F waves compared with conventional surface F waves, and their utility in detecting early diabetic neuropathy.
Muscle Nerve 2018;
58:665-670. [PMID:
29975798 DOI:
10.1002/mus.26290]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2018] [Revised: 06/25/2018] [Accepted: 07/01/2018] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION
The single-fiber F-wave (SFF-wave) technique assesses the entire length of single motor fibers using a concentric needle. Herein we investigated the utility of this approach in the detection of early diabetes-related neuropathy, and compared it with the use of conventional surface F waves (CF waves).
METHODS
Sixteen patients with diabetes and either no neuropathy or mild neuropathy were assessed and compared with 16 age- and height-matched control participants.
RESULTS
Both CF and SFF waves were abnormal in all 5 patients who had mild neuropathy. However, SFF waves demonstrated subclinical abnormalities in 7 of 11 patients (64%) with no neuropathy, whereas only 2 of these patients (18%) had prolonged CF waves. Minimum F-wave latency was comparable between techniques, but maximum SFF-wave latency was more frequently prolonged, as these delayed motor units were better isolated, rather than buried among summated CF-wave responses.
DISCUSSION
SFF waves highlight the segmental involvement in diabetic neuropathy, and use of the SFF-wave technique detects more abnormalities than with CF waves. Muscle Nerve 58: 665-670, 2018.
Collapse