Published online Jul 15, 2020. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v11.i7.309
Peer-review started: December 30, 2019
First decision: March 24, 2020
Revised: May 8, 2020
Accepted: May 12, 2020
Article in press: May 12, 2020
Published online: July 15, 2020
Processing time: 196 Days and 10.4 Hours
Diabetic polyneuropathy is a very common complication of diabetes. Numerous studies are available in terms of pathogenesis. But examination methods with low reliability are still not standardized and generally time consuming. High-sensitive, easy-to-access methods are expected. Biochemical markers are one of the subjects of research. We aimed to discover a potential biomarker that can be used for this purpose in patients with diabetes who have not yet developed symptoms of neuropathy.
To determine the place and availability of visfatin and thiol-disulfide homeostasis in this disorder.
A total of 392 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were included in the study. The polyneuropathy clinical signs were evaluated with the Subjective Peripheral Neuropathy Screen Questionnaire and Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument questionnaire and examination. The biochemical parameters, oxidative stress markers, visfatin, and thiol-disulfide homeostasis were analyzed and correlated with each other and clinical signs.
Subjective Peripheral Neuropathy Screen Questionnaire and Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument questionnaire with examination scores were correlated with each other and diabetes duration (P < 0.005). Neuropathy related symptoms were present in 20.7% of the patients, but neuropathy related findings were observed in 43.9% of the patients. Serum glucose, glycated hemoglobin, and visfatin were positively correlated with each other. Also, these parameters were positively correlated with the total oxidative stress index. Total and native thiol was positively correlated with total antioxidant status and negatively with oxidant status. Inversely thiol-disulfide positively correlated with higher glucose and oxidant status and negatively with total antioxidant status (P < 0.005). There was no correlation between visfatin and thiol-disulphide (P = 0.092, r = 0.086). However, a significant negative correlation was observed between visfatin and total with native thiol (P < 0.005, r = -0.338), (P < 0.005, r = -0.448).
Diagnosis of neuropathy is one of the issues studied in patients with diabetes. Visfatin and thiol-disulfide balance were analyzed for the first time in this study with inspiring results.
Core tip: Early diagnosis and management of micro and macrovascular complications are vital in patients with diabetes. Many algorithms and early diagnostic tools have been developed for this purpose. Yet it is still difficult to identify neuropathy because of the prolonged preclinical phase. This patient group has uncontrolled blood sugar and hypertension, accelerated renal replacement need, and life-threatening cardiac or cerebral macrovascular complications. With this study, we wanted to emphasize that screening of neuropathy should not be ignored in the follow-up of these cases. As an early diagnostic tool, many parameters that are responsible for pathogenesis should be investigated.