Limits of the sympathetic skin response in patients with diabetic polyneuropathy

We performed upper- and lower-limb sympathetic skin responses (SSRs) in a s eries ct 337 diabetic patients with and without peripheral polyneuropathy a nd 38 reference subjects. We did not find any correlations between SSRs and symptoms of pain or autonomic dysfunction. The SSR correlated more strongl y with vibration perception threshold (VPT) and sural nerve amplitude than with cooling detection threshold (CDT) or clinical symptoms. We conclude th at current limitations inherent in SSR testing preclude its use as a reliab le and consistent index of the autonomic dysfunction commonly encountered i n diabetic patients. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.