A. Pfutzner et al., The influence of isolated small nerve fibre dysfunction on microvascular control in patients with diabetes mellitus, DIABET MED, 18(6), 2001, pp. 489-494
Aim The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of isolated small
nerve fibre dysfunction on microvascular skin blood flow and transcutaneou
s oxygen tension in patients with diabetes mellitus.
Methods Small nerve fibre dysfunction was assessed by the measurement of th
ermal and pain perception thresholds. Patients with evidence of large fibre
disturbances as evaluated by means of vibration perception threshold were
excluded from the study. Microvascular blood flow was investigated with las
er-Doppler-fluxmetry (LDF) following stimulation with acetylcholine and mil
d thermal injury.
Results Diabetic patients with small nerve fibre injury showed a significan
tly reduced increase in the laser-Doppler-flux signal following the applica
tion of acetylcholine compared with patients without neuropathy or healthy
control subjects (2.8 arbitrary units (AU) (1.3-5.5) vs. 7.2 AU (4.1-25.5);
P = 0.007 and vs. 8.5 AU (3.0-17.0), P = 0.02, respectively). The increase
in LDF following thermal injury was also diminished in patients with small
nerve fibre dysfunction compared with patients without neuropathy or the c
ontrol group (29.8 AU (17.2-46.5) vs. 51.2 AU (29.5-93.5); P = 0.02 and vs.
54.6 AU (39.7-97.7); P = 0.004, respectively). In addition, they showed a
significantly reduced transcutaneous oxygen tension compared with the other
groups (42.9 mmHg (41.6-55.5) vs. 56.1 mmHg (49.2-60.8); P = 0.04 and vs.
59.0 mmHg (54.6-80.3), P = 0.03, respectively).
Conclusions Our study confirms an association between small nerve fibre inj
ury and skin microvascular dysfunction. It further underlines the concept o
f neurovascular disturbances in the pathogenesis of neurotrophic foot ulcer
ation.