Nerve conduction and electromyography (EMG) of insulin-dependent (type I) diabetic patients with end-stage nephropathy was studied before and up to 10 yr after kidney transplantation (KTx). A series of nondiabetic KTx patients served as a comparison group. Motor nerve conduction velocity (NCV) was measured in the ulnar, median, peroneal, and tibial nerves; sensory NCV was measured in the median nerve. EMG was performed in the first dorsal interosseus, flexor carpi radialis, anterior tibialis, and gastrocnemius muscles. In 68 pre-KTx diabetic patients, the mean NCV was below normal in all nerves, and the mean amplitudes of the evoked muscle action potential (MAP) were low normal in the upper extremity and below normal in the lower extremity. The values of the comparison group were within the normal range. At 1 (n = 57), 5 (n = 23), and 10 (n = 10) yr after KTx, the mean NCV of the diabetic patients remained essentially unchanged, but MAP amplitudes of all muscles had declined. EMG revealed progression of the denervation process, especially in muscles of the lower extremities. We conclude that diabetic neuropathy continues to progress by a progressive axonal loss after correction of uremia by KTx.
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Original Articles|
September 01 1988
Long-Term Follow-Up of Polyneuropathy in Diabetic Kidney Transplant Recipients
J Adam Van Der Vliet;
J Adam Van Der Vliet
Departments of Surgery, Neurology, and Medicine, University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
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Xavier Navarro;
Xavier Navarro
Departments of Surgery, Neurology, and Medicine, University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
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William R Kennedy;
William R Kennedy
Departments of Surgery, Neurology, and Medicine, University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
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Frederick C Goetz;
Frederick C Goetz
Departments of Surgery, Neurology, and Medicine, University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
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Jose J Barbosa;
Jose J Barbosa
Departments of Surgery, Neurology, and Medicine, University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
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David E R Sutherland;
David E R Sutherland
Departments of Surgery, Neurology, and Medicine, University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
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John S Najarian
John S Najarian
Departments of Surgery, Neurology, and Medicine, University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
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Address correspondence and reprint requests to William R. Kenhedy, MD, Department of Neurology, University of Minnesota Hospital, Box 187 UMHC, 420 Delaware Street, SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455.
Diabetes 1988;37(9):1247–1252
Article history
Received:
September 04 1987
Revision Received:
March 09 1988
Accepted:
March 09 1988
PubMed:
3044890
Citation
J Adam Van Der Vliet, Xavier Navarro, William R Kennedy, Frederick C Goetz, Jose J Barbosa, David E R Sutherland, John S Najarian; Long-Term Follow-Up of Polyneuropathy in Diabetic Kidney Transplant Recipients. Diabetes 1 September 1988; 37 (9): 1247–1252. https://doi.org/10.2337/diab.37.9.1247
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