FURTHER-STUDIES ON THE ELECTRODIAGNOSIS OF DIABETIC PERIPHERAL POLYNEUROPATHY USING DISCRIMINANT FUNCTION-ANALYSIS

Discriminant function analysis can be useful when applied to multiple nerve conduction parameters for diabetic and nondiabetic subjects to r eveal the essential dimension along which key neuropathic differences occur between these groups. In this study, 19 electrophysiologic param eters were used in a stepwise discriminant function analysis to reveal a highly significant dimension of intergroup differences between 67 d iabetic and 75 normal adult Japanese-American males. The classificatio n functions thereby derived are more sensitive and specific than those reported previously for this population. Furthermore, when 72 additio nal subjects with impaired glucose tolerance were examined, they showe d considerable overlap with the normal and separation from the diabeti c groups, respectively. Their intermediate position between normal and diabetics in the key discriminant dimension indicates that essential neuropathic change is, at most, incipient in this latter group.