Large and small nerve fiber function in painful diabetic neuropathy

Abstract Vibratory perception thresholds (VPTs) and thermal discrimination thresholds (TDTs), reflecting large nerve fiber function and small nerve fiber function, respectively, were determined in 20 diabetics with painful sensory polyneuropathy and in 20 diabetics without neuropathic symptoms. VPTs were elevated in 27 patients and proved to be significantly higher in the group with painful neuropathy ( p TDTs were abnormal in 35 cases and the difference between patients with and patients without symptoms was more pronounced ( p