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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2013 Nov;36(11):3405-10.
doi: 10.2337/dc13-0590. Epub 2013 Jul 11.

NSE, a potential biomarker, is closely connected to diabetic peripheral neuropathy

Jianbo Li  1 , Hongman Zhang, Min Xie, Lingfei Yan, Jiawei Chen, Hongxing Wang
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

NSE, a potential biomarker, is closely connected to diabetic peripheral neuropathy

Jianbo Li et al. Diabetes Care. 2013 Nov.

Abstract

Objective: To explore the relationship between serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) levels and diabetic neuropathy.

Research design and methods: Type 1 or 2 diabetic and healthy control subjects (n = 568) were randomly enrolled in a cross-sectional study. Diabetic neuropathy status was documented by the presence of clinical symptoms or signs, electromyography, quantitative sensory tests, and cardiac autonomic neuropathy tests. The severity of the neuropathy was staged by composite scores. Serum NSE was measured using electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. The demographic and clinical variables were obtained through an interviewer questionnaire.

Results: Serum NSE levels increased slightly in diabetic subjects compared with normal subjects (9.1 [1.5] vs. 8.7 [1.7], P = 0.037), and the levels increased greatly in diabetic subjects with neuropathy compared with those without (10.8 [2.8] vs. 9.1 [1.5], P = 0.000). The association of NSE with diabetic neuropathy was independent of the hyperglycemic state (fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, duration, and the type of diabetes) and other potential confounders affecting NSE levels (e.g., age, sex, and renal status) (odds ratio 1.48 [1.13-1.74], P = 0.001). In addition, NSE levels increased with and were closely correlated to the stages of neuropathy (r = 0.63 [0.52-0.74], P = 0.000). The optimal cutoff point for serum NSE levels to distinguish patients with diabetic neuropathy from those without was 10.10 μg/L, with a sensitivity of 66.3% and a specificity of 72.5%.

Conclusions: Serum NSE levels are closely associated with peripheral neuropathy in patients with diabetes. Future studies are warranted to clarify the relationship.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
ROC plot. Serum NSE levels were shown in distinguishing between patients with and without diabetic neuropathy. The optimal cutoff point of the serum NSE levels was 10.10 μg/L, with a sensitivity of 66.3%, a specificity of 72.5%, and the highest AUC equal to 0.73 (0.68–0.77, P = 0.000).
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