[Cutaneous thermographic changes in diabetic polyneuropathy]

Abstract

Aim: to demonstrate the effectiveness of the thermography method in assessing and diagnosing peripheral polyneuropathy and risk of developing ulcerative lesions in diabetic patients planting.

Material and methods: Study was prospective and included 90 patients of both sexes, aged between 18 and 70 years in the Neurology Clinic of the Rehabilitation Hospital Iaşi from January 2010-January 2011. The study group consists of 60 patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes complicated with sensory- motor polyneuropathy. Control group consisted of 30 patients, selected from apparently healthy general population to assess the normal thermographic profile. To register thermic values it was used a thermal infrared camera FLIR A320 type of setting individual emission on the skin areas examined with automatic temperature correction reflected the distance or relative humidity.

Results: Gender distribution of patients in the study group was predominantly male (63%), the ratio M/F = 1.7/1. Motor conduction velocity in the study group was significantly reduced both the SPE (41 +/- 2.8 m/s) and SPI (40.5 +/- 3.1 m/s). Skin temperature was significantly higher in the control group compared with controls, both legs and the plantar surface (33.70 +/- 0.80; 28 +/- 0.50 t degrees C).

Conclusions: Thermographic changes in patients with sensory-motor neuropathy is an early sign in the detection and prevention of risk of injury planting.Thermography can be a useful method for diagnosis and dynamic evaluation of patients with peripheral sensory-motor polyneuropathy.